Varanasi: Kashi and Mathura temple issues should not be raised till the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya, the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Jayendra Saraswati said today (Nov 5).

"Time is not appropriate for raising the issue of Kashi and Mathura," the Shankaracharya, who is in Varanasi to take part in the four-day celebrations marking his 'completing priesthood', told reporters.

"Till the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, the issue pertaining to Kashi and Mathura should not be raised," he said.

Asked whether he would be taking further initiatives for resolving the Ayodhya issue, he said as the question is that of the title of the land and not whether a temple or a mosque existed at the disputed site, it could be decided by court.

The Ram temple would be constructed on the basis of the revenue and other records, "which were in favour of Hindus", he said.

On the circumstances that led to the rejection of his formula by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the seer said it was because "we had raised the issue of Kashi and Mathura".

PTI