'Yours is crooked, ours stands straight': Bageshwar Baba's Krishna-Ram remark sparks backlash; apologises

Popularly known as Bageshwar Baba, Shastri made the comments while addressing a gathering during a Ram Katha programme in Karera, in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district.

He compared the physical appearance and mannerisms of the two Hindu deities, mocking Lord Krishna's characteristic posture and flute-playing style while praising Lord Ram's upright stance.

What did Bageshwar Baba say?

Shastri described Lord Krishna as standing in a crooked posture, with his feet crossed, waist bent and neck tilted while playing the flute.

"Look at any photograph of your Thakurji. He is always looking around. Even when he stands, he is crooked in three places — his feet are crossed, his waist is bent somewhere, and then with his neck bent he plays the flute," he said.

"Our Lord stands absolutely straight. His name is straight, he looks straight, and he walks straight. Yours is crooked — he looks crooked and walks crooked," he added.

He also compared the significance of the flute associated with Lord Krishna with Lord Ram's bow.

"Playing the flute is just a sport/child's play, but using the bow is no sport. The flute played by your Thakurji is no big deal. There's even a man on stage playing the flute," Shastri said.

He also drew a comparison between Ayodhya and Vrindavan, the respective religious centres associated with Lord Ram and Lord Krishna.

Remarks trigger backlash, Shastri issues clarification

The remarks triggered criticism, with detractors accusing the religious leader of creating a distinction between two revered Hindu deities and pitting their devotees against each other.

Following the backlash, Shastri issued a clarification video, saying his comments had been misinterpreted and were not intended to create any distinction between Lord Rama and Lord Krishna.

"Some people have interpreted our words differently and drawn incorrect meanings from them. We humbly want to clarify that we did not intend to create any distinction between Lord Ram and Lord Krishna," he said.

Describing his remarks as an emotional expression of devotion, or bhav, Shastri said they were akin to a playful rebuke made out of love, similar to traditional devotional expressions in which the gopis lovingly chide Lord Krishna.

He maintained that he was not against Lord Krishna, pointing out that his own name includes Krishna.

Shastri added that such remarks sometimes emerge in the heat of the moment or in jest and apologised if anyone's religious sentiments had been hurt.

Earlier controversy over Durga Puja remarks in Kolkata

The latest controversy comes months after Shastri faced criticism during his September 2026 visit to West Bengal over his remarks on food habits during Durga Puja.

During a three-day visit to the state, he attended a Hanumant Katha programme at Liluah in Howrah.

While addressing the gathering, Shastri objected to the consumption of fish and meat near Durga Puja pandals, describing such food as "dirty".

He also urged Hindus in Kolkata to boycott or expel people consuming non-vegetarian food during Navratri, calling them "pakhandis" (hypocrites) and questioning their religious devotion.

His comments drew objections from sections of the Bengali community, who viewed them as an affront to Bengal's culinary traditions and cultural identity.

The remarks also triggered political reactions, with leaders from different parties weighing in on the controversy.

The episode sparked a wider debate over religious practices, freedom of expression and Bengal's traditional food culture.