Latest news with #DaitapatiNijog
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Time of India
2 Puri servitors allege medicines for healing deities stolen; govt rejects charge
1 2 Bhubaneswar: With two days left for Rath Yatra, two prominent servitors of Puri Jagannath temple stirred a controversy on Tuesday by claiming that some herbal medicines meant for the ceremonial treatment of the sibling deities were stolen from the shrine premises on Saturday. The govt dismissed the allegations and warned of action against anyone spreading 'misleading' information. Senior servitor Haladhara Dasmohapatra, who is the custodian (Badagrahi) of Lord Balabhadra, alleged that at least 70 'Dasamula Modaka', a type of ball-shaped herbal medicine, were missing from a total of 313 stored in the Garada, a chamber within the temple complex on Saturday. These offerings were kept in Garada for the ceremonial treatment of the deities, who become unwell following their sacred bath during Debasnan Purnima on June 11. Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are subsequently placed in an isolation chamber, known as Anasara Gruha, where they continue their recovery. The deities, inaccessible to worshippers since June 12, will recover fully and grant darshan on Thursday, on the eve of Rath Yatra. You Can Also Check: Bhubaneswar AQI | Weather in Bhubaneswar | Bank Holidays in Bhubaneswar | Public Holidays in Bhubaneswar "Raja Vaidyas, a group of servitors, prepared the Dasamula Modaka. I noticed the missing items when I entered the Garada to collect the medicine for the treatment of deities on Saturday. This is a serious and unpardonable act. This never happened in the temple's history. SJTA should conduct an investigation and punish those responsible for the theft," Haladhara said, adding, "I submitted a written complaint to the temple administration on Sunday. " Lord Jagannath's custodian, Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, endorsed Haladhara's claim. "I also strongly suspect the theft of Modaka. The govt should conduct an inquiry," Mohapatra said. Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan rebutted the allegations. "The Modaka theft allegation is completely baseless. Certain people are spreading false narratives for personal publicity. We will take action against those trying to create confusion," Harichandan said. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) strongly refuted the two servitors' charges. "Our preliminary investigation found that the allegations are not true. Modakas are not counted by the SJTA. As per our temple record, all the Modakas that were offered to the deities were handed over to the Daitapati Nijog's (an association of servitors) secretary," SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee said. Daitapati Nijog secretary, Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, who was recently suspended following a controversy surrounding Digha Jagannath temple's naming as 'Jagannath dham', was unavailable for comment.
New Indian Express
15-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration holds meet with Daitapatis; stresses timely conduct of rituals
PURI: With the 'Anasar' period of the Trinity underway, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Saturday convened a meeting with the Daitapati Nijog to discuss the timely conduct of rituals with special emphasis on Pahandi. SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee urged Daita servitors to segregate into four groups to perform the Pahandi rituals of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra. Each group will have the required number of Daita and other servitors as mentioned in the Record of Rights. As the two important rituals - Netrotshab and Nabajouban Darshan - will be observed on a single day this year, the chief administrator stressed effective coordination among the servitors' groups, timely performance of rituals, safety of the deities and hassle-free darshan. 'No mobile phones are allowed atop the chariots of the Trinity. This apart, stringent action will also be taken against unauthorised persons or servitors without duty found on the chariots,' Padhee reiterated.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Hans India
SJTA suspends senior servitor for 30 days
Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Sunday suspended senior servitor Ramakrushna Dasmahapatra for 30 days and barred him from entering the 12th-century Puri temple after he attended the consecration ceremony of Digha Jagannath Temple in West Bengal and was accused of indiscipline. An official statement by SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said Dasmahapatra had been suspended from all temple duties and prohibited from performing rituals at the Puri Jagannath Temple for a month. Dasmahapatra, who also serves as the secretary of the Daitapati Nijog — a group of servitors who act as the ceremonial bodyguards of the deities during the annual Rath Yatra — has been instructed not to influence or threaten any servitor or individual in an attempt to obstruct temple services or rituals during the suspension period. 'If he does so, the suspension period will be extended and stricter disciplinary action will be taken. During this period, the commander and senior supervisor of the temple will regularly report to Padhee on Dasmahapatra's conduct,' the statement added. The order also stated that if Dasmahapatra's 'disorderly' behaviour is observed during the suspension period and thereafter, the temple administration will cancel or suspend the allowances/pay/awards he is entitled. Prior to the disciplinary action, the SJTA had issued two show-cause notices to Dasmahapatra. The first, dated May 4, directed him to explain within seven days why he allegedly violated temple tradition by crafting idols for the Digha Jagannath Temple using sacred wood collected during the Nabakalebara festival in 2015 — an act that hurt the religious sentiments of devotees worldwide. He was also questioned for allegedly making 'disorderly' and 'irresponsible' remarks on a Bengali television channel, where he initially claimed to have crafted the idols for Digha temple with the surplus sacred wood of Puri temple. However, he later denied the allegation. The State government, through an inquiry, found that the idols for Digha temple were crafted by a carpenter in Bhubaneswar, State Law Minister Pritihiviarj Harichandan had told reporters. A second notice was issued on May 9, asking Dasmahapatra to explain why he attended the consecration event at the Digha temple in his capacity as a Puri servitor, and whether he objected to the temple being referred to as a 'Dham' by the Digha Jagannath Temple Trust. Chief Administrator Padhee emphasised the decision aims to uphold order and discipline within the temple premises. 'It is the duty of all of us to uphold the tradition, rituals and dignity of the temple keeping self above pride and arrogance and this should be a demonstration of our devotion to Lord Jagannath. In the coming days also, no kind of disorder will be tolerated,' Padhee said.
New Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SJTA suspends Dasmohapatra for one month over Digha temple row
PURI: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Sunday suspended secretary of Daitapati Nijog and senior servitor Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra for a month over his involvement in the consecration ceremony of Digha Jagannath temple in West Bengal. Dasmohapatra was placed under suspension after SJTA issued him two show cause notices over his statement on the use of surplus sacred Nabakalebara wood of Srimandir in crafting idols of the Digha temple and his participation in the inauguration ceremony despite being aware that it is being called Jagannath Dham. The suspension order was passed against Dasmohapatra as he has denigrated the image of Srimandir, said a press release issued by SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee. The senior servitor has been prohibited from rendering religious service and entering the 12th century shrine during the suspension period. The order also stated that during the period, Dasmohapatra should not try to intimidate members of his Nijog and other persons connected with the incident to disrupt the rituals of Srimandir. If the directions are violated, the suspension period will increase, and stringent action will be taken against him.
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Indian Express
Senior Puri Jagannath temple servitor who took part in Digha shrine consecration suspended for 30 days
TEN DAYS after he attended the inauguration of a Jagannath temple in West Bengal's Digha, a senior servitor at the Puri Jagannath temple was on Sunday suspended by the temple authorities for a month for 'demeaning the sanctity and dignity' of the 12th century shrine, one among the four dhams in Hinduism. According to the suspension order issued by Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee, Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra has been debarred from participating in any temple ritual and also from entering into temple premises for 30 days. Officials said the disciplinary action has been initiated as per the provisions of the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955. The order also warned against any attempt to influence or intimidate other servitors or individuals which will impact the rituals of the temple. If he makes any such attempt, the suspension period will be extended, according to the order. Instruction has also been issued to monitor his behaviour during the suspension period. 'The action has been initiated to ensure discipline in the Jagannath Temple. It's the duty of everyone to uphold the sanctity of the shrine and traditions. Any kind of indiscipline will not be tolerated,' said Padhee. Dasmohapatra, a senior servitor of Daitapati Nijog — the group that performs special rituals during the annual Rath Yatra — had participated in the inauguration of the Digha temple on April 30, and made some 'contradictory statements' for which the SJTA had issued him a show-cause notice on May 4. The senior servitor was asked to explain the allegations regarding his interview to the media in West Bengal in which he claimed to have provided idols for the new shrine that were made from the leftover wood from the Nabakalebara rituals held in 2015. Nabakalebara is a sacred ritual in which the wooden idols of the sibling deities are replaced with new ones at the 12th century shrine. The ritual is performed at an interval of 12 or 19 years, coinciding with astronomical considerations. As his claims triggered a row, Dasmohapatra later contradicted his statement, saying that the idols were not made of the leftover wood from the Nabakalebara ritual, and that he had supervised the crafting of the idols for the Digha temple. An internal probe by the temple administration also found that no leftover wood from the Nabakalebara ritual was used for crafting idols for the Digha shrine. 'The contradictory statements created confusion among devotees of Lord Jagannath, hurt their sentiments and tarnished the dignity of the 12th century Puri Jagannath Temple,' said an official. On May 9, the SJTA issued another show-cause to Dasmohapatra asking him to explain how, being a senior servitor, he participated in the consecration ceremony of the Digha temple despite it being named as 'Jagannath Dham'. Naming of the Digha temple as Jagannth Dham has triggered a row with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently asking his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee to reconsider the decision, saying that referring to the new shrine as Dham dilutes 'Puri's distinct heritage'. Puri's erstwhile royal and chairman of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee Dibyasingha Deb had also stated that referring to the Digha temple as a dham amounts to violation of 'scriptural injunctions and long-established tradition'.
