Jaipur: A delegation of priests met with district collector Sandesh Nayak Monday regarding the restoration of Galta Peeth, the principal seat of Ramananda Sampradaya, citing a recent Rajasthan High Court order.The delegation, led by Vishwa Hindu Mahasangh national secretary Narendra Purohit, comprising Mahant Ramratandas, Mahant Raghunandas, Mahant Ishwardas, Mahant Parmanandas and Mahant Harishankardas Vedanti, submitted a memorandum to the collector.“The priests urged the collector to implement the court’s direction by handing over temple services and management to the Ramananda Sampradaya without delay. They maintained that restoring the Peeth to ascetic Ramanandi leadership would uphold its founding discipline and settle a long-pending question of religious administration at Galtaji for the future,” Purohit said.It demanded that the historic seat be returned to Ramanandi saints belonging to the traditional lineage of the temple.Rajasthan High Court, in an order dated April 21, 2026, directed Nayak, as administrator of Galtaji trust, to take representations from both the factions of priests and examine possible redressal mechanisms.In their submission, the priests traced the dispute to 1924, when Jaipur State removed Harisharanacharyaji as Mahant of Galtaji. They noted that on Oct 10, 1942, the revenue minister issued a public notice seeking a Virakta, a competent and virtuous Vaishnava scholar for the Gaddi of Thikana Galtaji. Ramodaracharyaji was subsequently appointed Mahant.The memorandum alleged that Ramodaracharyaji later left the ascetic path and became a householder, which the delegation said violated Galta Peeth’s Ramanandi traditions.It further stated that during legal proceedings, high court disqualified him for misusing the assets of Peeth and acting against its customs, after which the institution came under state control.
