Kedarnath-Inspired Temple In Etawah Triggers Outrage; Seers Demand Halt, Architect Calls It A 'Unique Tribute'

A new religious flashpoint has emerged in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah district, where the construction of a Shiva temple—Kedareshwar Mahadev Dham—in Saifai, the ancestral village of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, has drawn sharp criticism from prominent Hindu seer bodies. They allege that the temple is a symbolic replica of Kedarnath, one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas, and accuse Yadav of politicizing sacred symbols for electoral mileage ahead of the 2027 state elections.

Leading religious organisations, including the Char Dham Teerth Purohit Mahapanchayat and the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, have demanded an immediate halt to the construction, calling it an infringement on the spiritual and cultural sanctity of Kedarnath.

“Kedarnath is not just a temple—it is a living embodiment of Sanatan Dharma,” said Suresh Semwal, President of the Char Dham Teerth Purohit Mahapanchayat. “We have no objection to a Shiva temple being built anywhere. But replicating the garbhagriha (sanctum) and architectural design of Kedarnath in Saifai is deeply disrespectful to crores of devotees.”

Echoing the concern, Brijesh Sati, General Secretary of the Mahapanchayat, pointed out that similar attempts in Delhi and Telangana were previously scrapped after strong opposition. “Even the Uttarakhand government passed a Cabinet resolution on July 18, 2024, cautioning against the unauthorised use of Char Dham temple names or designs. Kedarnath’s identity must be preserved,” he said.

Mahant Ravindrapuri, President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad and head of the Mansa Devi Temple Trust, accused Akhilesh Yadav of using religious sentiment to consolidate his political base. “If his intent is truly devotional, he should commission a temple with an original concept—not a copy of Kedarnath. This is a calculated attempt to blend politics with piety,” he said.

Mahamandaleshwar Swami Lalitananda Giri added that while temples dedicated to Lord Shiva can be built in various forms, invoking the name and design of Kedarnath is a distortion of tradition. “It misleads devotees and compromises the sanctity of the Jyotirlinga,” he said.

The temple, which is being built on the spiritually significant Shiva Aksha Rekha—a line believed to connect major Shiva shrines from Kedarnath in the north to Rameshwaram in the south—is scheduled to be inaugurated on Maha Shivratri, February 15, 2026.

Architect Defends Design: “A Homage, Not a Replica”

Amid the growing controversy, the temple’s chief architect, Moadhu Botta Yadav, has defended the project, stating that while Kedarnath served as an inspiration, the final design is an original fusion of architectural styles.

“We were inspired by Kedarnath’s spirit, but Kedareshwar Mahadev Dham is not a replica,” Botta said. “This temple has four towering gopurams, a distinct feature of South Indian temple architecture, which Kedarnath does not have.”

He highlighted several other unique elements: a jal kund (sacred water tank), a 200-pillared corridor, and a Nandi statue positioned away from the sanctum—unlike Kedarnath where Nandi faces Lord Shiva. “This feature is inspired by the Chamundeshwari temple in Karnataka. It’s a rare blend of North and South Indian temple traditions,” he explained.

Botta admitted that the construction is in its final stages, making any structural changes nearly impossible. “We’ve reached a point where alterations are not feasible. But I assure critics—this temple is not a copy. It is a respectful tribute to Shiva, designed with architectural integrity and devotion,” he said.

Despite the architect’s clarification, opposition from religious bodies continues to intensify. With priests threatening legal action and the temple nearing completion, the dispute has escalated beyond design issues to touch on broader questions of religious authenticity, political symbolism, and cultural appropriation.

What began as a devotional initiative is now at the heart of a national debate—testing the boundaries between inspiration and imitation, faith and politics. The fate of Kedareshwar Dham may soon be decided not just in temples or town halls, but in courts and campaign rallies.