Saladha, Aug. 25 -- Jyotishpeeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati criticised senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Manusmriti and Sanatan cultural values, saying that the comments reflected "profound ignorance, superficial understanding, and malicious mindset" towards the Sanatan tradition.

According to a press release, the Shankaracharya said Gandhi's reference to verses from ancient scriptures was out of context for political purposes and was an attempt to mislead society and an insult to India's cultural heritage.

Swami Avimukteshwaranand said that the verse "Pita rakshati kaumare, bharta rakshati yauvane..." (The father protects in childhood, the husband protects in youth...) cited by Gandhi should...