Mahant Avaidyanath
Mahant Avaidyanath was an Indian politician and the head priest of the Gorakhnath Math, a prominent Hindu temple in Gorakhpur. He was a member of the Hindu Mahasabha and, later Bharatiya Janata Party; and got elected to the Indian parliament from Gorakhpur four times. He played an important role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He is better known as the mentor and guru of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Career
Religious
Avaidyanath succeeded Mahant Digvijay Nath as the head of Gorakhnath Math. Upon his death in 2014, he was succeeded by Yogi Adityanath.Political
Avaidyanath was elected Member of the [Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA] from Maniram Assembly segment five times – 1962, 1967, 1969, 1974 and 1977, variously as Independent or Hindu Mahasabha's or Janata Party's candidate. He was elected Lok Sabha member from Gorakhpur as an Independent candidate in 1970 but lost 1971 General Election when Indira wave swept India. He won again in 1989 as candidate of Hindu Mahasabha. He was elected MP from the same seat in 1991 and 1996 as Bharatiya Janata Party nominee. He retired from electoral politics after that, and his protege Yogi Adityanath was elected to Lok Sabha in 1998 General Election.Religio-political
Mahant Avaidyanath was a leader of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, founding the Sri Ramjanmabhoomi Mukti Yagna Samiti in 1984. In September of that year, the Samiti launched a "religious procession with Hindu nationalist slogans" from Sitamarhi in Bihar to Ayodhya, with the mission of 'liberating' the Ram temple. Avaidyanath gave sermons exhorting the listeners to give votes only to those parties that promised to liberate the Hindu sacred places.Death
He died on 12 September 2014 in Gorakhpur. Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi said he was "saddened over the demise of Mahant Avaidyanath ji", and that he will be remembered for his patriotic zeal and determined efforts to serve society.Home Minister Rajnath Singh and UP BJP president Laxmikant Bajpai also sent condolences on his death.