Bhubaneswar: Amid raging controversies surrounding the new Jagannath Temple at Digha, Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb on Saturday said appropriate steps would be taken regarding the word ‘Dham’ used by the West Bengal government for the recently-inaugurated shrine.
Gajapati Maharaja, who is the Chairman of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee at Puri, was responding to the request made by eminent sculptor Sudarsan Pattnaik who sought his intervention over the issue in a letter.
“We are taking appropriate action in connection with the controversies over the newly-built shrine at Digha,” the Puri King said while replying to the plea of Pattnaik.
“The construction of a new temple dedicated to Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath is truly commendable and appreciated, the reference to it as ‘Jagannath Dham’ has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of millions of His (Lord Jagannath) devotees around the world. As per our sacred scriptures (Shastras), there is only one organised Jagannath Dham, which is in Puri, Odisha. Using this revered title for any other location may cause religious confusion and runs contrary to the long-standing spiritual traditions and cultural heritage of Hinduism,” Pattnaik had written.
The renowned artist, who is a former Srimandir managing committee member, has also urged the King to take steps to preserve the rich Jagannath culture.
Notably, the state government on Friday ordered a probe into the reports that surplus neem wood (sacred Daru) from Nabakalebar rituals at Puri Jagannath temple were used for construction of idols for the Digha shrine.
Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan has asked Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator, Arabinda Padhee to conduct a probe in this regard.
Ramakrushna Dasmahapatra, senior Daitapati servitor at Puri Jagannath temple, reportedly told some media channels in West Bengal that surplus neem wood from 2015 Nabakalebar rituals at the 12th century shrine were taken to Digha for construction of idols.
However, Dasmahapatra, later, clarified that he had not said so to any media channel. “This is a false report. I have never told this to any news channel. My statements might have been morphed or intentionally edited. One thing, I told the media people that neem wood idols were consecrated at the newly-built temple at Digha,” he said.
Some servitors of Puri Jagannath temple, including Dasmahapatra, had reportedly attended the inauguration of Digha temple recently.
Devotees have expressed resentment over the use of Jagannath Dham for Digha shrine.
