SJTA To Seek Puri Seer’s Advice On Jagannath Temple Rituals

Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) will seek the advice of the Shankaracharya of Gobardhan Peeth on all matters relating to the rituals of the Lords.

Informing this to the media after a meeting of the Jagannath Temple Managing Committee with Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati on Monday, SJTA chief administrator Krishan Kumar said it was decided at the meeting that the temple’s managing committee will have four meetings in a year. “The committee will work in coordination with the Shankaracharya and the SJTA while emphasis will be given on unanimous decisions for the smooth management of the temple administration,” he added.

Kumar said that the SJTA will submit a report on the issues discussed at the meeting to the Supreme Court during its hearing scheduled on January 8.

The apex court in its earlier order had directed the SJTA to seek the advice of the Shankaracharya and the Gajapati Maharaja on any matter relating to the conduct of the rituals of the Lords.

Meanwhile, the SJTA began the process for the ensuing Rath Yatra scheduled on June 23. As decided, a team of senior servitors will proceed to the Nayagarh forest division very soon to collect logs for the construction of the three chariots after receiving the ‘agyaanmala’ (order) of the Lords.