Puri: Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb on Tuesday once again urged the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to follow scriptural dates for Ratha Yatra and refrain from holding untimely celebration.
In a fresh letter to Govardhana Das, Chairman of ISKCON Governing Body Commission, Shree Mayapur (West Bengal), Dibyasingha Deb said that the celebration of Ratha Yatra by ISKCON in various countries outside India in contravention of sacred scriptures and tradition is deeply hurting the religious sentiments and causing severe discontent among devotees of the Lord around the world.
Notably, the Puri King had on September 6 informed Das of the final decision of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), Puri that ISKCON Temples in various countries around the world must celebrate Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra only on the specific tithi prescribed by sacred scriptures and tradition.
However, in a reply on October 19, Das informed Gajapati Maharaja that while ISKCON has agreed to celebrate Snana Yatra on the prescribed tithi (Jyestha poornima) in all its temples within India and abroad, it is unable to agree with the decision of SJTMC to celebrate Ratha Yatra in countries outside India on the tithi prescribed by scriptures and tradition — within only the nine-day period commencing from Asadha Shukla-paksha Dwitiya tithi.
Gajapati Maharaja’s fresh letter is in response to ISKCON’s refusal to adhere to the tithi prescribed by scriptures and traditions while holding Rath Yatra.
“This violation by ISKCON has been strongly denounced by Param Pujyapad Shreemad Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati Maharaj of Shree Goverdhana Peeth (Puri), the supreme religious authority in matters relating to Shree Jagannatha Sanskriti and Sanatana Vaidika Dharma,” read the letter of the Puri King, who is also the Chairman of SJTMC, Puri.
“Under the aforesaid circumstances, I sincerely urge you to reconsider your decision and advise ISKCON Temples to celebrate Shree Jagannatha Ratha-yatra around the world only during the nine-days auspicious period commencing on Asadha Shukla-paksha Dvitiya Tithi in accordance with the prescription of sacred scriptures and ancient well-established tradition,” the letter added.
