Digha Jagannath Temple Controversy: A Tale of Faith, Tradition, and Politics.

Devotees, Priests from Odisha, Researcher, King, Shankaracharyas demand removal of ‘Jagannath Dham’ label from Digha temple.

by Upananda Brahmachari

The inauguration of the Jagannath Temple in Digha, West Bengal, has sparked a heated controversy over the use of the term ‘Jagannath Dham’ to describe the temple. The West Bengal government’s decision to label the temple as ‘Jagannath Dham’ has been met with strong opposition from devotees, priests, and politicians in Odisha, who claim that it is a “self-styled” title that undermines the sanctity of the original Jagannath Dham in Puri.

The Significance of Jagannath Dham

For millions of Lord Jagannath devotees worldwide, Puri’s Jagannath Dham is a sacred pilgrimage site that holds immense spiritual significance. The temple in Puri is one of the four Dhams in India, and its unique traditions and rituals are deeply rooted in Hindu scriptures. The use of the term ‘Jagannath Dham’ for any other temple is seen as a deviation from this tradition and a potential threat to the cultural identity of Lord Jagannath’s devotees.

The Controversy Unfolds

The controversy began when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee referred to the Digha temple as ‘Jagannath Dham’ during its inauguration on April 30. The move was criticized by many, including renowned sand artist, Jagannatha Sanskriti Researcher and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik, who accused Banerjee of hurting the religious sentiments of millions of Lord Jagannath devotees. Pattnaik urged Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to intervene in the matter and engage with Banerjee to resolve the issue.

Reactions from Odisha

The reaction from Odisha has been swift and decisive. Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, the chief priest during the temple’s inauguration, has requested Banerjee to remove the ‘Dham’ label from the Digha temple. Dasmohapatra emphasized that Puri is the only place referred to as ‘Jagannath Dham’ and that the use of this title for any other temple is unjustified.

Puri King’s Objection

Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb has also objected to the use of the term ‘Dham’ for the Digha temple. Deb, who is the first servitor of Lord Jagannath, approached the Puri Mukti Mandap Pundit Sabha seeking their opinions on the matter. According to the priests of Mukti Mandap, Purushottam Kehtra is the abode of Lord Jagannath, and any other temple, regardless of its grandeur, cannot be referred to as Jagannath Dham.

Shankaracharyas’ Strong Stance

Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has sharply reacted to the Jagannath Dham tag used for the temple in West Bengal. “Jagannath temple can be built anywhere, but the word ‘Dham’ should not be used as there is only one Dham of Lord Jagannath that is in Puri, Odisha. A ‘Dham’ can only be in one place. As Almighty is omniscient, Lord Jagannath can be worshipped at any place. The Lord’s idols can be installed at a majestic temple, but it is inappropriate to call it as ‘Dham’,” said the Hindu seer, opposing West Bengal government’s move.

Revered Puri Shankaracharya Shrimad Nischalananda Saraswati of Govardhan Muth has also objected any establishment in the name of ‘Jagannatha Dham’ outside Puri.

The Role of Politics

The controversy has taken a political turn, with some accusing Banerjee of using the ‘Jagannath Dham’ label for political gain. Shree Jagannath Sena convener Priyadarshan Pattnaik has accused Banerjee of misleading the people of Bengal and urged her to stop using the ‘Dham’ label. The controversy highlights the complex interplay between faith, tradition, and politics in India.

A Call for Resolution

As the controversy continues to simmer, there is a growing demand for a resolution. Devotees, priests, and politicians are calling for a dialogue between the West Bengal and Odisha governments to resolve the issue. The question remains: can the sanctity of Jagannath Dham be preserved, or will the Digha temple controversy set a new precedent? Only time will tell.

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For any further clarification, writer can be contacted at upananda.br@gmail.com / hinduexistence@gmail.com

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