Latest news with #GovardhanPeeth
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Puri seer's security to be enhanced
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday asked authorities to strengthen the security of Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati and his seat 'Govardhan Peeth' in the holy town. Majhi issued the direction while presiding over a meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan here on the development of Puri's 'Govardhan Peeth'. Saraswati, who enjoys 'Z' category cover, will now get enhanced security, a senior police officer said after the meeting. The meeting, attended by Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, Puri MP Sambit Patra, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja among others, deliberated on development and preservation of all structures and establishments at 'Govardhan Peeth'. Majhi also urged the 'Govardhan Peeth' trust board members to put forth developmental ideas before the State government. In a related development, Harichandan told reporters that the Odisha government has decided to rehabilitate 19 'mutts' (monasteries) demolished during the 'Srimandir Parikrama' (heritage corridor) project during the previous BJD government.
Hans India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Puri Gajapati urges ISKCON to resolve Digha temple row
Bhubaneswar: Puri's titular king, Dibyasingha Deb, on Wednesday urged the ISKCON to convince the Digha Temple Trust Board to remove the term 'Jagannath dham' from the newly consecrated temple in the coastal town in West Bengal. In a letter to Shree Goverdhan Das Prabhu, Chairman of ISKCON Governing Body Commission, Mayapur, the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri said Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati Maharaj of Govardhan Peeth (Puri) and Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati Maharaj of Jyotish Peeth (Joshimath) have categorically declared that only 'Purushottama-kshetra' Puri is 'Jagannath dham' and that no other temple or place should be called as such. Stating that ISKCON plays a key role in performing rituals at Digha's Jagannath temple, Deb, the first servitor of Lord Jagannath in Puri, said, 'Having regard to participation of ISKCON representatives in the trust board of Digha Jagannath temple, I request you to use your good offices to convince the Digha Temple Trust Board to desist from using the word 'dham' with reference to Shree Jagannath Temple at Digha.' 'As you (ISKCON) are well aware, the most revered Shankaracharyas are the highest religious authorities in Sanatana Vaidika Dharma. Moreover, Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth is the 'Adi Guru' and 'Parama Guru' in the tradition and culture of Lord Jagannath,' he said. The Muktimundupa Pundita Sabha in Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri has stated, citing relevant scriptural declarations, that Shree Jagannath Temple in Digha cannot be called 'Jagannath dham', he mentioned in the letter. Meanwhile, a video released by Govardhan Peeth, Puri showed Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati, who is currently touring Punjab, saying: 'Lord Brahma had first installed Shree Jagannath idol in Puri Temple. Later, Adi Shankaracharya again installed the 'Daru' (wooden) idols of Lord Jagannath.'
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Majhi writes to Mamata, requests her to remove Dham from Digha temple name
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday wrote to his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee requesting her to reconsider the use of Jagannath Dham for the newly-inaugurated temple at Digha. Expressing deep concern over naming of the Digha temple as Jagannath Dham, Majhi said Shree Jagannath temple at Puri is one of the 'Char Dhams' of Hinduism and holds unparalleled religious, spiritual and cultural significance, not just for people of Odisha but also millions of devotees across the country and world. 'The name 'Jagannath Dham' holds a unique and sacrosant identity linked to Puri, and its usage in reference to any other temple or location hurts sentiments and emotions of millions of pilgrims besides diluting heritage of Shree Jagannath Dham, Puri,' he wrote. The CM said while Odisha acknowledges the devotion of the people of West Bengal towards Lord Jagannath, the use of Dham in official and promotional context for the Digha temple is likely to cause confusion among devotees, dilute the historical identity of Puri as the original and revered abode of the Lord. Majhi requested the government of West Bengal to reconsider the usage of Jagannath Dham in its official naming, communication and promotional materials. 'I sincerely hope the government of West Bengal will uphold the spirit of inter-state respect and cultural sensitivity in this matter and take necessary steps to address our concerns,' Majhi wrote. On the other hand, even as Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth in Puri Swami Nischalananda Saraswati Maharaj is yet to react to the controversy, his counterpart in Jyotirmath at Uttarakhand Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said only Puri Jagannath temple can be called a Dham. Avimukteshwaranand on Tuesday said a Dham can only be in one place and it is not right to call Digha temple as such. Meanwhile, within hours of BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya claiming that the Jagannath Dham signage has been removed from Digha due to protests, the temple authorities have reinstalled a new permanent signage at the same spot. Purba Medinipur Police in West Bengal called the signage removal claims as 'false propaganda by people with vested interests'. This comes a day after state Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said Odisha government will explore legal options if West Bengal does not drop the word. Puri king Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb also urged Digha temple authorities not to associate Dham with it.
