Bhubaneswar: Ending weeks of speculation, Minister Law, Prithviraj Harichandan today unequivocally stated that no sacred surplus wood (Daru) from Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri was used in the construction of the wooden idols for the Digha Jagannath temple in West Bengal.
The Minister’s clarification came after receiving an internal probe report from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), which investigated the allegations.
“The surplus Daru was not used in the construction of the idols for the Digha temple. After discussions with the servitors and Maharana sculptors associated with the Jagannath Temple in Puri, it was confirmed that it is not feasible to carve a 2.5-foot idol from such surplus wood,” Shri Harichandan told media persons.
The controversy arose following remarks by senior servitor Ramakrishna Das Mahapatra, who initially suggested that surplus Daru had been utilized. However, Minister Shri Harichandan revealed that Shri Das Mahapatra himself has now clarified his statement. “Senior servitor Ramakrishna Das Mahapatra, who had earlier indicated that surplus Daru was used, has now himself clarified that no such sacred wood was involved,” Minister Law reaffirmed.
He further clarified that the idol in question was carved by Sudarshan Maharana, a Bhubaneswar-based sculptor, using regular neem wood. Shri Harichandan stated that the earlier “misleading remarks” by Shri Das Mahapatra are currently under review by the State Government.
Emphasizing the sanctity of the Shree Jagannath tradition, the Law Minister asserted that “no traditional or religious sanctity linked to Puri’s Nabakalebara ritual was violated in the process.” He referred to the Shatwa Lipi of Lord Jagannath temple, which dictates that any remnant of Daru should be placed under the Daru house near the Suara Mahasuara Nijog’s house for safekeeping. He noted instances in the past where wood was stored elsewhere but reiterated that the Shatwa Lipi mandates storage within the Daru house.
The SJTA Chief Administrator, Dr. Arabinda Padhee, submitted the internal probe report to the Law Minister, leading to today’s clarification. The probe panel has recommended that all surplus Daru be securely stored under the Daru house to prevent any future confusion or misuse. “The SJTA Chief Administrator has submitted his report after a detailed investigation regarding what happened, along with some recommendations. These will be apprised to the Chief Minister for the next course of action,” Shri Harichandan stated.
As a remedial measure, the SJTA will soon formulate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure uniformity in the conduct of rituals across all Jagannath temples. Additionally, the Odisha Government will be sending an official letter to the West Bengal government to address the “use of Dham,” a term whose context was not fully explained in the provided text.
With this strong clarification from the Law Minister and the recommendations from the SJTA probe, the state government aims to put an end to the recent speculations and reaffirm the adherence to the sacred traditions associated with the Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri.