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Key Points

The Puri Shankaracharya has accused West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee of building the Digha Jagannath temple purely for economic gains. Odisha CM Mohan Majhi formally objected to the temple being called 'Jagannath Dham'. The controversy comes as Puri prepares for its iconic Ratha Yatra festival. Meanwhile, Odisha is seeking legal protection for Puri temple's unique identity.

Key Points: Puri Shankaracharya Slams Mamata Over Digha Jagannath Temple Motives

  • Puri seer claims Digha temple driven by economic interests not devotion
  • Odisha CM Majhi objects to 'Jagannath Dham' name usage
  • ISKCON criticized for untimely festivals
  • Odisha seeks patent for Puri temple's identity
2 min read

Puri seer sees business, not religious sentiments behind Digha Jagannath temple

Puri seer Swami Nischalananda Saraswati accuses Mamata Banerjee of economic motives behind Digha Jagannath temple, sparking Odisha-WB row.

"Mamata wants to restrict this income source to West Bengal utilizing the name of Lord Jagannath. - Swami Nischalananda Saraswati"

Bhubaneswar, June 26

Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati on Thursday targeted the West Bengal Government, asserting that the driving force behind the construction of the Jagannath Temple at Digha and terming the temple as 'Jagannath Dham' in the neighbouring state is economic interests rather than religious sentiments.

Answering queries over the controversy surrounding the Digha Jagannath Temple during a press conference at the holy coastal town, the Puri seer said: “Most of the pilgrims in Puri come from West Bengal and is a source of earning for the priests, hotels and other businesses here. Mamata (West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) wants to restrict this income source to West Bengal utilizing the name of Lord Jagannath. This is a question of economic interests and has no way connected to religious sentiments.”

The Puri seer also criticised the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) as directionless for organising untimely Ratha Yatra and Snana Yatra.

Earlier, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has written a letter to his West Bengal counterpart, Mamata Banerjee requesting her government to stop naming Digha Temple as ‘Jagannath Dham’ as it exclusively refers to the 12th century shrine at Puri and its usage for any other temple is inappropriate.

The Jagannath Temple at Digha was also embroiled in a controversy related to the preparation and distribution of Prasad by some Muslim shop owners.

West Bengal's Jagannath Temple in Digha was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 30. The temple is a replica of the main Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.

Following the controversy surrounding the Digha Jagannath Temple, the Odisha government also took a significant decision last month to apply for a patent on the glossary linked to the famous 12th century shrine and deities and the logo of the temple.

Meanwhile, the holy city of Puri braces for the world famous nine-day long Ratha Yatra festival which is set to commence from June 27.

The city has been placed under a five-tiered security blanket for the festival.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
The seer makes a valid point about commercialization of faith. Puri has centuries of tradition behind it - you can't just create a replica temple and call it 'Dham' for tourism purposes. This dilutes our sacred heritage. 🙏
P
Priya M.
As a Bengali, I feel both states should work together on this. More temples mean more access to spirituality for devotees. But the naming could have been more thoughtful - maybe 'Jagannath Mandir' instead of 'Dham' to respect Puri's significance.
A
Amit S.
Why is everything becoming political? First the prasad controversy, now this. Lord Jagannath belongs to all. Instead of fighting, both governments should ensure proper facilities for pilgrims traveling between Puri and Digha.
S
Sunita P.
The patent application by Odisha govt is a smart move! Our ancient traditions need protection from commercialization. But I hope they don't restrict genuine devotees from worshipping. Balance is important.
V
Vikram J.
While I respect the seer's views, we must remember ISKCON has done tremendous work globally to spread Sanatan Dharma. Instead of criticism, traditional and modern institutions should collaborate to preserve our culture. Jai Jagannath! 🚩

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