Lord Jagganatha and ISKCON Calcutta Temple Get Justice in Calcutta HC

[Guest guest]

Lord Jagganatha and ISKCON Calcutta Temple Get Justice in Calcutta High

Court

Sarvabhavana Das

 

In an unprecedented decision the ISKCON Calcutta temple has just won a court

decision from a communist judge not known to be favourably disposed to

Religious festivals. He has overturned the Police Commisioner's attempt to

ban the yearly Ratha Yatra festival here, which is the largest in the world,

drawing over 1 million people.

 

This history of the dispute is as follows. Until 3 years ago the Calcutta

Ratha Yatra was held every year without any trouble, and grew bigger and

bigger in size each year. Unfortunately 3 years ago a new police commisoner

for the city of Calcutta was appointed. He had 2 nephews who had become

devotees - one is a current ISKCON temple president. For that reason he has

nursed a very heavy grudge against ISKCON ever since. Thus as soon as he

became police commisioner he vowed to stop the Ratha Yatra. Being the police

commisoner he has enormous power and the case seemed hopeless for the

temple. Last year he attempted to stop the Ratha Yatra by purposely delaying

giving permission for the erection of the pandal for the 7 day festival that

follows the Ratha Yatra. This tactic is hugely damaging, for the pandal is

in effect a mini-temple as large as the Bombay temple. Building experts had

advised that such a huge construction, would take at least 21 days minimum.

The commisioner knew this, and last year he gave permission only 6 days

before the festival was to begin. This way he thought he had ruined the

festival. However by Lord Jagganatha's mercy, through a miracle somehow the

temple managed to erect the whole pandal in 6 days. Everyone was amazed and

was convinced that Lord Jagannatha himself had constructed the pandal in

such a short space of time.

 

This year the commisioner was even more determined to stop the Ratha Yatra

having already tasted defeat at the hands of the Lord of the Universe. Thus

this year he went for the killer blow - he simply refused permission for

the parade. Without this there can be no festival. And just to be sure he

also delayed giving permission for the erection of the pandal until 4 days

before the festival. Fearing that they will never be able to put up the

pandal in such a short time the temple had twice began constructing the

pandal earlier, and twice the commisiner sent 20 policemen to smash up the

whole pandal and the temple were forced to start again. Last year the

commisioner thought 6 days would have finished us. Having seen that did not

work, he has now managed to cut it to 4. He has to by law give permission

for the pandal, but he can use every trick in the book to delay giving it.

..However Lord Jagannatha is helping the Calcutta temple - so let's see if

they can do in 4 days a job that must take at least 21 days minimum

normally!

 

However the permission for the parade was still in the commisioner's hands.

But Adridharan das, the Calcutta temple president, was not going to give up

without fighting on behalf of Lord Jagannatha. He went to court to seek

justice, even though we had a judge who was not favourable. Thus he did not

hold out much hope, and simply prayed to Lord Jagannatha. However Lord

Jagannatha intervened again and the following judgement was given:

 

"Considering the facts and circumstances I am of the opinion that pending

decision in the writ petition the petitioner shall be permitted to take out

the Rathayatra procession on 14/7/99 from Central Station, Metro

Railway on Central Avenue, Jawaharlal nehru Road, Park Street & Camac

Street. The said procession shall be taken out not before 13 hrs. [...], &

the same timing as for the Rathayatra festival shall be maintained.

 

All parties are to act on a signed xerox copy of this Dictated Order on the

usual undertaking."

 

Earlier in the day, Adridharan das who has been masterminding this victory

over the police commisioner on behalf of Lord Jagannatha, held a news

conference, protesting this police harrassment. It was attended by 28

reporters and 4 TV stations. He gave a speech on the importance of Lord

Jaggantha's Ratha yatra festival and it was broadcasted on West Bengal's

most popular TV show.

 

Please note that had the judge not given this order the festival could not

have taken place, and the police commisioner would have won. You cannot have

a festival as large as this without the authorities agreeing. Yet even the

judge was not going to stand in the way of the 'lord of the universe'.

Please compare the action taken by this 'karmi' judge in a 'karmi' court,

where kali is supposed to rule, with the sentiments of certain 'devotees',

led by Ajamila das, who were praying that the festival would be cancelled.

Below are just a couple of examples of these 'devotional' sentiments:

 

"Text COM:2455744 by Krishna Kirti (das) HDG (Baltimore, MD - USA)

Calcutta Ratha Yathra-WARNING!

 

"It would be good if the powers that be issue a ban on the rathayatra."

 

Commenting on the above view of Krishna Kirti Das, was:

Text COM:2457038: Bhadra Balaram (das) JPS (Mayapur - IN)

 

"a truly bold opinion! You are right."

 

Please note that Lord Jagannatha reigns supreme all over the universe - even

in a Calcutta High Court - as the above shows.

 

Everyone from all over the word is invited to attend Calcutta on July 14th,

to see the 'Lord of the Universe'.

 

Lord Jagannatha's Ratha Yatra ki jai!