Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi received an unusual and symbolic request for ‘guru dakshina’ during his visit to spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya’s ashram in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh. The revered spiritual figure urged the Army Chief to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as an offering of honor.
General Dwivedi visited the ashram on Wednesday, where he sought blessings from Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and participated in a spiritual discussion with saints and students. During their interaction, the Jagadguru drew parallels between the Army Chief’s mission and the mythological journey of Lord Hanuman to Lanka. He said General Dwivedi had received the same diksha (initiation) with the sacred Ram Mantra that was once given to Hanuman before his mission to rescue Sita.
In this spiritual context, Rambhadracharya requested PoK as guru dakshina — a traditional offering made by disciples to their gurus in Hindu philosophy — highlighting the symbolic and nationalistic tone of the message.
The request comes shortly after the launch of Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The operation, initiated on May 7, targeted multiple terror bases in Pakistan and PoK and led to an intense exchange of fire until a ceasefire was reached on May 10. Despite the relative calm since then, Indian officials have reiterated that Operation Sindoor remains active in strategic terms.
Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, a renowned scholar, philosopher, and Padma awardee, is known for his advocacy for national unity and cultural revival. His poetic appeal for the reclamation of PoK underlines the deep connection between spirituality and patriotism in India’s civil-military discourse.
