Entrance to Jagannath for Non-Hindus Imminent

[Guest guest]

posted on VNN / excerpt from www.newindiapress.com:

 

Jagannath Temple Ponders Entrance Policy

 

BY PARAMA KARUNA DAS

 

INDIA, Nov 30 (VNN) — "So these European and American Vaisnavas, they're

hankering after jagannatha svami nayana pathagami bhavatu me. Now it is

through your intervention they may be able to see Jagannatha Swami." (Srila

Prabhupada addresses pandas at Puri, 26 January 1977)

 

Dear devotees, Hare Krsna! I am forwarding you the important announcement of

the managing of the Jagannatha Puri temple (Orissa, India) regarding the

possible imminent abolition of the restrictions against non-Indian born

devotees.

 

The announcement comes after years of work from our part, culminating in the

heated debate that we sustained on various Hindu groups on Internet, the

example of which I am pasting below the news.

 

Please circulate the information among all devotees. It would be very

helpful if a large group of devotees could come to Jagannatha Puri in

December 2005 and/or January 2006 to support the good winds of change.

 

Your servant,

 

Parama Karuna D

 

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Jagannath Temple Ponders Entrance Policy

 

(www.newindpress.com)

 

BHUBANESWAR, INDIA, November 25, 2005: Will January 2006 bring cheer to the

Hindus, Buddhists and Jains of foreign origin by opening the doors of Shri

Jagannath Temple along with several other Hindu places of worship, which

have so far been out of bounds for them? Well, it just might. For, all those

who have a say in the matter are set to assemble at Muktimandap of Shri

Jagannath Temple and take a decision on the centuries-old tradition. As a

heated debate rages whether to or not to allow Hindus, Buddhists and Jains

of foreign origin into the Hindu temples, most particularly the 12th Century

Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati is

expected to convene a meeting with the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, Sevayats

(servitors), temple administration and the Government representatives to

discuss the issue by December-end. Sources close to Shankaracharya, who is

on a religious trip outside the State, said, he is aware of the development

and is keen to sort it out in consultation with the stake-holders.

 

"He will return to Puri by the last week of December and would initiate the

discussions immediately,'' sources said emphatically. The move of the

Shankaracharya assumes significance as he heads Muktimandap, which is the

apex decision-making body of the temple and whose verdict is also accepted

by other Hindu temples and places of worship. Even Hindu organizations like

Vishwa Hindu Parishad have called for relaxation of the tradition and

allowing Hindus, Buddhists and Jains of non-Indian origin to enter the

Jagannath Temple.

 

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