He left home at 22, became ABAP chief in 2014
Born as Rajendra Singh, Giri hailed from Bibipur village near Saidabad town area of Prayagraj district.
ON OCTOBER 10, 2019, THE TERM OF GIRI AS PRESIDENT OF ABAP WAS EXTENDED FOR FIVE MORE YEARS IN HARIDWAR FOLLOWING WHICH HIS STATUS ELEVATED SIGNIFICANTLY.
PRAYAGRAJ : Mahant Narendra Giri as head of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad was known for taking tough decisions. As the president of the Akhada Parishad, he took many such decisions which were discussed across the country.
The most talked about was his releasing lists of fake godmen across the country starting from September 2017.
The lists created quite a stir among the fake seers as the lists also demanded a crackdown on these “rootless cult leaders”. A lot of pressure was exerted on him to withdraw the list but he stood firm on his decision.
Born as Rajendra Singh, Giri hailed from Bibipur village near Saidabad town area of Prayagraj district.
At an early age of 22, Giri left his home in 1983 and embraced sainthood in 1985. Giri started staying in the company of Kothari Divyanand Giri of Sri Panchayati Akhara Niranjani.
After the Kumbh got over, Divyanand took him to Haridwar and observing his dedication he gave Giri a go-ahead to take Sanayasa and was given the name Narendra Giri in 1985. Mahant Balwant Giri of Shrimath Baghambri Gaddi gave him Guru Diksha.
It was after the death of Balwant Giri that Mahant Narendra Giri took over as the Peethadheeshwar of Baghambari Gaddi Math in 2004 and also became the Mahant of Bade Hanuman temple.
He was elected secretary of Niranjani Akhara. It was at the Nashik Kumbh (2014) when Giri was elected president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP).
As the president of the Akhara Parishad, Giri refused to recognise the Kinnar and Pari Akharas in 2017. In the same year and in 2018 the list of fake seers was released.
The list included the names of famous Mahatmas like Asaram Bapu, Ram Rahim, Mahamandaleshwar Daati Maharaj, Mahamandaleshwar Nityanand etc.
Several Akhadas too had opposed the list but Giri stuck to his decision.
In 2019, when Kinnar Akhara tried hard to be recognised as 14th Akhara, it was Giri who had vociferously opposed the idea and the controversary subsided when Juna Akhara took Kinnar Akhada under its ambit.
In every Kumbh, several politicians, including chief ministers, ministers, various leaders of different parties and even officials used to meet Giri as he was popular among all and enjoyed equal proximity with all.
On October 10, 2019, the term of Giri as president of ABAP was extended for five more years in Haridwar following which his status increased significantly.