Hindu Entrance Solution at Puri Temple hits Roadblock

BY: DEBABRATA MOHAPATRA

Oct 18, JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA — The ongoing communal war in Kandhmal has impacted the reformation process in the world famous Jagannath Temple here. The shrine's protracted debate on which "categories" of Hindus can enter the temple-off limits to non-Hindus-hit a roadblock as authorities apprehended trouble from the priests in the hallowed city, which has time and again witnessed chaos because of caste confusion at Jagannath Temple.

"Apprehension at this point of time is quite understandable. The tribal areas in the state are already singing because of the war on religion. It won't be wise to discuss another raging issue of who can enter the Jagannath Temple here for the time being," said a temple official demanding anonymity. "It is a conflicting issue and certain priests here always act as thorn in the temple development. So we don't want to invite their wrath at this sensitive moment. Let the issue be discussed once Kandhamal becomes calm," the official said.

The temple administration three months ago had formally started to tackle the contentious issue of the "categories" of Hindus to be allowed into the 12th century shrine. Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, the scion of the royal family of Puri, alongside some other delegates from the temple had met Puri Sankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati to find a solution to the raging issue.

On two occasions, some Hindu pilgrims (as claimed by police after verifying identity cards) from Indonesia were driven out of the shrine by some priests, who suspected that the foreigners were non-Hindus. Considering the complexity of the matter, it was then decided that Puri Sankaracharya will lead the way to bring an end to the controversy of who can enter the shrine.

"Still, we are heavily banking on Sankaracharya. His decision will be accepted by everyone. But the process has been postponed for certain period," said Rabindranath Pratihari, a senior priest and member of Sri Jagannath Temple's managing committee. But he refused to say whether the process was hampered because of communal riots in Kandhmal.

"Solving the issue of who can enter the temple is not a small matter. A hurried move may create a religious flutter," said Pratihari, who is also one of the members in the committee formed to deal with the problem.

"We shall also take the opinion of intellectuals, scholars, priests, senior citizens, advocates, etc in the matter. After that, Sankaracharya will give his decree," Pratihari told.

The temple administrator (development) Birakishore Panda, also the convener of the committee, said "We hope the process of solving the controversy resumes soon".