Puri: Taking serious note of the act and statements made by Ramakrushna Das Mahapatra on inauguration of Jagannath Temple at Digha, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has suspended him for one month.
SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Padhee has suspended the senior servitor after investigating the matter and issuing two notices to Das Mahapatra. The Sevayat was also disposed off before the SJTA officers for a proper probe.
The SJTA has prohibited Shri Das Mahapatra from participating in any temple rituals or entering the temple premises during this suspension time.
The Temple Administration has also issued him warning against taking any attempts to influence or intimidate other servitors or individuals involved in temple activities, with the possibility of extending the suspension or taking stricter disciplinary actions if violated.
Besides, the newly appointed Commander of the Shree Mandir Security Force and senior supervisor have been tasked to closely monitor the behavior of Das Mahapatra and report to the Chief Administrator during his suspension period.
Ramakrushna Das Mahapatra, a senior Daitapati servitor of the Puri Srimandir, who performed the Pratishtha Puja of the Digh Jagannath Temple, had claimed that he has provided unused Daru of Puri Temple for conduction of idols of the Holy Trinity installed at the Digha temple. He had also reportedly said that Brahma was installed on the idols.
This statement of the senior seveyat has created a spark among the crores of Jagannath devotees across the globe. Later, he made a U turn and clarified that he has not used any wood of Puri temple for Digha temple. However, his conduct drew action against him.
Meanwhile, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati has opened his voice against naming the Jagannath temple at Digha as “Jagannath Dham”.
“Sri Jagannath Puri is located in Utkal (Odisha) province. Any other reference to this historical fact is completely inappropriate,” Govardhan Math said on X.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had written a letter to his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on this matter.
“As you are well aware, Shree Jagannath Dham in Puri, Odisha, is one of the Char Dhams of Hinduism and holds unparalleled religious, spiritual, and cultural significance, not just for the people of Odisha, but for millions of devotees across India and the world,” the Chief Minister had stated in his letter.
Stating that the name “Jagannath Dham” holds a unique and sacrosanct identity linked to Puri, Majhi said, use of the term in reference to any other temple or location hurts sentiment and emotion of millions of pilgrims, devotees, and the general public, besides diluting the distinct heritage of Shree Jagannath Dham, Puri.
He urged the West Bengal Government to reconsider the usage of the name “Jagannath Dham” in relation to the Jagannath temple established at Digha and refrain from using the term in its official naming, communication, and promotional materials.
Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik had also sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention into the issue. However, the West Bengal CM remain adamant and continue to call it a “Jagannath Dham”.