The Gajapati king of Puri, Dibyasingha Deb, on Monday expressed his deep shock and anguish over the non-participation of the Shankaracharya of Goverdhan Peeth Swami Nischalananda Saraswati in the Rath Yatra festival on Sunday as the government put restrictions on the seer’s right to climb the chariots and perform puja.
“I’m pained that Jagadguru Sankaracharya could not perform his traditional rituals on the chariots. He is the religious guru of the Hindus. The letter issued by the state government putting restriction on his rights to perform puja atop the chariots is unjust. Neither the state government nor the Sri Jagannath Temple administration has got any authority to infringe upon his religious rights,” the king, who is regarded as the first servitor of Lord Jagannath, said.
The king clarified that when Sankaracharya himself had informed that the temple administration that he would climb the chariots with only two of his disciples, it was a “disrespect” to ask him to come alone.
Temple Committee to Discuss Gajapati’s Letter
The absence of Jagadguru Shankaracharya on the chariots during the Rath Yatra this year and the letter written in this regard by the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri will be discussed at the next meeting of the Jagannath temple committee, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhi said here today.
Emerging out of a meeting with chief secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra at the state secretariat here, Padhi said all issues would be discussed threadbare and an amicable solution found at the next meeting of the temple committee. The Gajapati Maharaja himself is the head of the committee, he pointed out.
The temple administrator said everything possible would be done to preserve the majesty and sanctity of religious institutions and traditions.
Padhi said he and Suresh Mohapatra, the special officer appointed by the Odisha government for smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra, briefed the chief secretary on the measures taken to ensure that rituals associated with the nine-day festival are conducted without any hassles.
Puri King Defends Shankaracharya
Pained over Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati not performing puja on chariots due to a dispute with the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration, king of Puri Divyasingha Deb today said the Odisha government must take steps to resolve the issue.
“Both the state government and the SJTA should make efforts to ensure the traditional role of the seer is kept intact. I hope that they facilitate the traditional rituals performed by the Shankaracharya on the chariots,” Deb said.
The Shankaracharya yesterday boycotted the rath jatra while protesting the SJTA’s letter which restricted him to climbing the chariot without any of his disciples.
“Even as the Sankaracharya had himself decided to take only two of his disciples to chariots this year, the administration insisted that he go alone. As per practice, the seer used to be accompanied by seven persons in the past,” Deb said.
“The SJTA took the decision of putting restrictions on the Shankaracharya without consulting him.” As per the tradition, Sankaracharya was the first to have darshan of the deities on the chariots every year on the Rath Jatra Day before the king of Puri performed the ‘Chhera Pahanra’ or the ceremonial sweeping of chariots.
Meanwhile, the RSS and the VHP reacted sharply against the ‘humiliation’ of the seer and the institution of Shankaracharya, and threatened to launch an agitation unless the state government apologised to the seer.
Even the Daitapati Nijog, which was opposed to Shankaracharya’s view of banning devotees climbing the chariots, also disapproved the break in tradition.
You don’t need a guru present to perform religious rituals or worship God. God is attainable to all who are will to be in service through devotion. One guru who is trying to stir religious tension and calling for violence not present at a chariot festival will not stop God from descending to our festivals
Ravi ji, with all due respect your statement is most ridiculous and ignarant in nature. This is celeberation of Sat Dharma, in honour of the Param Brahma in It’s manifestation as Lord Jagannath. It is also a celebration of His grace through which Sat Dharma has survived, prospered, continued since a hoary past. It’s ceremonial in nature and reflects also the culture of people and through metaphors of tradition, rites and rituals,the profound metaphysics behind it. As an expression of gratitude, a celebration of His grace it’s festive in nature not meditative. Your poorly thought out contention is like on a republic day parade every Indian should meditate silently on the parade and celeberation that happen instead of performing them. The president should do away with his presence along with other dignitaries. As far as we commit ourselves to idea of a republic day privately there is no need for any celeberation on ground.I hope you get what I am saying.
Government should not have interfered with traditional
practices and customs.
It is the sad side-effect of politicians getting to administer Hindu temples, and Government – run mostly, nowadays, by atheist politicos and their henchmen. Governments should leave temples in the custody of theists first, with noble ideals.
Age-old practices and rituals, are the business of those followers of a system do know very well, the scriptures laid down by acharyas and scholarly elders. They are prevalent in temples for generations, but have been abolished with the sole objective of acquiring unquestioned authority over the wealth and assets generated by temples out of what devotees offer. Greedy persons to usurp the temple wealth joins hands with corrupt politicians and strong-arm-tactics to achieve their goal is what prevails everywhere. Should change !
Can the Government pass restrictions in similar way to Christian or Muslim ministriesor clergy.
Even muslim MPs And MlAs are talking against country and Hindu religion, government is unable to do any thing. This is all because government is trying to weaken Hindu fabric
Hinduism is a ancient religion which flourished from time immemorial with unwritten laws and without any acrimony between people.During that period no religious intolerance .With advent of mohamedden and Christian invasion thEy wanted to thirst their religion and their dogmas on us and by their cunning divide and rule plan they created division among people.We Indians fell prey to their designs forgetting our glorious past and culture.They looted our wealth destroyed our temples and cultural fabrics.Few misguided people easily fell prey to their money and material bait.There is no history of Hindu temple built destroying other religious places of worship but whereas many other religious places of faith are built destroying Hindu temples.Hindu temple wealth looted.But still Hinuism Hindu Dharma Hindu tolerance survives.
Shankaracharya is a Jagadguru. Puri Shankaracharya is the Jagadguri of entire Eastern Part of India. Whatever he says is final. No Argument.
If we don’t respect our own gurus, there is no future for entire mankind not only Hindus, no one.