Puri: Amid a controversy over the new shrine at Digha in West Bengal, Govardhan Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati on Sunday made it clear that ‘Jagannath Dham’ is located only in Odisha’s Puri.
In a post on the X handle of Govardhan Math in Hindi, the Puri seer said, “Sri Jagannathpuri, situated in the province of Utkal, is Sri Jagannath-Dham. The use of this heritage act elsewhere is totally inappropriate.”
उत्कलप्रान्त में सन्निहित श्रीजगन्नाथपुरी श्रीजगन्नाथ-धाम है।
इस ऐतिह्य तथ्य की अन्यत्र उद्भावना सर्वथा अनुचित है।
– निश्चलानन्द सरस्वती (श्रीमज्जगद्गुरु-शङ्कराचार्य पुरीपीठ)@ANI @CMO_Odisha @MamataOfficial— Govardhan Math (@govardhanmath) May 11, 2025
The view expressed by the Shankaracharya in the post assumes significance as it has come amid a raging controversy triggered by ‘Dham’ term used by the West Bengal government for the recently-inaugurated Jagannath temple at Digha.
The move by West Bengal sparked strong protest from the Odisha government, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri and devotees in the state and outside.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb have also sought steps for the removal of ‘Dham’ word from the Digha temple.
It is contended that Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri happens to be one of the four most significant sites (Char Dhams) of Hindu religion in the country established by Adi Shankaracharya. The other three Dhams are Badrinath Dam, Dwarka Peeth and Rameswaram.
Earlier also, the Shankaracharya had stated that the new temple at Digha appears to be more a complex having commercial implications. The temple seems to be a symbol of ‘temptation for wealth’ and Lord Jagannath’s name has merely been used to earn money, he had said recently.
