Latest news with #Srimandir
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Puri temple body moves to trademark sacred terms as Odisha opposes West Bengal's use of ‘Jagannath Dham'
The Odisha government, under Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, has initiated steps to obtain trademark rights over terms closely tied to the heritage and spiritual identity of the Jagannath Temple in Puri. This move comes amidst a growing dispute with the West Bengal government after it named a temple in Digha as 'Jagannath Dham'. The effort is seen as a measure to protect the sanctity of the temple and ensure that specific religious terms are not used elsewhere inappropriately. Trademark to safeguard religious terms The proposal to secure trademark rights was finalised during a recent meeting of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), chaired by the Puri Maharaja, Dibyasingha Deb. Attendees included the temple's chief administrator, the district collector, and senior police officials. While the full list is yet to be finalised, officials have confirmed that words like Shree Jagannath Dham, Srimandir, Mahaprasad, Nilachal Dham, and Bada Danda are among the terms identified for legal protection. Arabinda Padhee, the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), stated, 'This will help prevent misuse of the 12th-century temple's original spiritual identity and unauthorised use of its sacred terminology.' The dispute over 'Jagannath Dham' naming The conflict intensified after the West Bengal government, led by Mamata Banerjee, chose to name a new temple in Digha as 'Jagannath Dham'. Odisha authorities maintain that this term refers exclusively to the Puri temple, one of Hinduism's four sacred dhams. The issue was also raised by the Puri Maharaja during the temple committee meeting. He expressed concern that the use of the name by West Bengal violated long-standing religious practices. 'The West Bengal government cannot use the term 'Jagannath Dham' for their temple at Digha. This is against Hindu scriptures and the age-old tradition of Lord Jagannath,' he said. Rumours had surfaced claiming that excess sacred neem wood from the Puri temple's Nabakalebara ceremony was used to create idols for the Digha temple. Both Odisha and West Bengal have denied such speculation. Digha's Jagannath Temple stands as a serene yet powerful symbol of spiritual heritage. Its towering presence invites every soul to pause, reflect, and witness beauty woven in faith! #JoyJagannath Odisha CM urges reconsideration Earlier this month, Odisha CM Mohan Majhi wrote to Mamata Banerjee requesting that the West Bengal government reconsider using the term for the Digha temple. In his letter, Majhi noted that the term holds deep religious value and using it for a different location could hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees. He also highlighted that Bengal contributes significantly to tourism in Puri. In 2023 alone, out of 97.25 lakh domestic tourists, over 13.59 lakh were from West Bengal. Speaking to The Times of India, Majhi reiterated that Puri's religious position cannot be duplicated. 'It is one of the Char Dhams, established since the time of Adi Shankaracharya. No one, including any political leader, can replicate or shift that faith,' he moves to trademark Puri temple terms to preserve sanctity amid growing dispute over naming rights with West Bengal.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
ISKCON will get reply from Srimandir priests on Rath Yatra, says Gajapati
BHUBANESWAR/PURI : Amidst International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) holding untimely Rath Yatras in different parts of the world, Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb on Monday said the priests of Shree Jagannath Temple will send a reply to ISKCON to reach a consensus on holding the festival as per the shrine's schedule. Addressing mediapersons, the Gajapati said the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) had taken up the issue with governing body commission of ISKCON at West Bengal's Mayapur in December last year and priests of both the Srimandir and ISKCON had met again in March this year. During the March meeting, Srimandir priests had provided them details of all the scriptures and the well-established traditions which mandate that Rath Yatra should be celebrated on the 'tithi' that Srimandir follows. 'However, ISKCON priests had some more doubts which our priests in Srimandir have agreed to clarify through a letter. This letter will be submitted to the ISKCON governing body commission soon. Hopefully, they will agree to follow the Srimandir tradition for Rath Yatra,' the Puri king said. He added that in case ISKCON does not agree, the Srimandir administration will check if any legal help can be taken on the issue. ISKCON holds Rath Yatra as per the Srimandir schedule in all its temples within the country but when it comes to its temples in other countries, there is no fixed schedule. 'We are happy that hundreds of new Jagannath temples have come up in many foreign countries, and many more are in the line but they should follow the traditions and rituals as per the prescribed norms practised in the Srimandir,' he added.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Dasmohapatra gets second SJTA show cause notice
BHUBANESWAR: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has issued a second show cause notice to Srimandir Daitapati Nijog secretary Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra over his participation in inauguration of Jagannath temple at Digha despite being aware that it is being called Jagannath Dham. The SJTA has given Dasmohapatra two days to submit a satisfactory explanation failing which action will be taken against him as per the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1955. The notice states that the Digha temple authorities used the name Jagannath Dham - Digha and a signboard Jagannath Dham was displayed outside the temple. 'As a senior Daitapati servitor of Srimandir, Dasmohapatra was aware of this and his participation in the consecration ceremony of 'Jagannath Dham' at Digha has led to confusion among the devotees about the traditions of Shree Jagannath temple at Puri. Besides, it has hurt the religious sentiments of countless Shree Jagannath devotees,' the notice read. The SJTA demanded an explanation as to why he as a senior servitor of Srimandir participated in the inauguration of a temple that goes by the name Jagannath Dham, and if he raised any protest against such naming with the organisers during the inauguration ceremony. Earlier this week, the SJTA had issued a show cause notice to him over his statement on the use of surplus sacred Nabakalebara wood of the 12th-century shrine in crafting idols of the Digha temple. He was asked to give his reply within seven days from May 4.
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Sudarsan Pattnaik seeks CM's intervention over Digha temple ‘Jagannath Dham' row
BHUBANESWAR: Eminent sculptor and former Srimandir managing committee member Sudarsan Pattnaik on Friday sought Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's intervention into the controversy surrounding Jagannath temple at Digha. In a letter to the chief minister, Pattnaik said the use of word Dham by the West Bengal government for the temple has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Jagannath devotees across the world. 'According to sacred scriptures, there exists only one Jagannath Dham, which is located at Puri. Associating any other temple with the title 'Jagannath Dham' may lead to religious confusion and contradicts the long-standing spiritual and Hindu cultural traditions,' he wrote. Pointing out that a few sevayats from Puri have reportedly claimed that 'brahma' has been established in the stone idol of Lord Jagannath at Digha temple, Pattnaik said the concept of 'brahma' in Mahaprabhu Jagannath's idol is deeply sacred and unique aspect of Srimandir, tied to centuries of tradition and ritual secrecy. Seeking an investigation, Pattnaik alleged that the findings of government inquiry into 'Brahma Parivartan' (soul transfer) delay in 2015 Nabakalebara is yet to be made public.
