The ongoing tussle between the Jagannath temple administration in Puri and ISKCON took an ugly turn on Sunday.
BHUBANESHWAR: The ongoing tussle between the Jagannath temple administration in Puri and ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) over organising the annual rath yatra and entry of non-Hindus to the temple took an ugly turn on Sunday when the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) decided to take ISKCON to court. The SJTA is angry with ISKCON for organising the yatra on wrong dates and months.
“We will appeal to the court to direct ISKCON against hurting Hindu sentiments by violating norms set for the Lord Jagannath yatra,” said SJTA chief administrator Suresh Chandra Mohapatra.
He said the temple administration had been left with no option but to move court because ISKCON refused to follow the “age-old” tradition of the 12th century shrine in Puri, one of the four sacred dhams for Hindus.
The SJTA’s action comes two day after the priests of the shrine hit the streets demanding action against ISKCON. The priests vowed to fight against ISKCON’s “attempt” to dilute the tradition associated with Lord Jagannath.
The controversy was first sparked when the servitors of the Puri temple opposed the rath yatras organised by ISKCON at different points throughout the year across the globe. Two such yatras were held on October 6 in Ludhiana and December 6 in Chandigarh.
Traditionally, the annual rath yatra is organised on Asha Shukla Dwitiya in July as per the Gregorian calendar. It is expected that the same is followed across the globe.
A section of servitors has alleged that Dibya Singh Deb, the Gajapati king of Puri, has been encouraging ISKCON.
Harekrushna Mahasuara, general secretary of Sri Jagannath Sevayat Samilani that is spearheading the agitation against ISKCON, said, “Almost all Jagannath temples in the country take out the rath yatra in June and July. It is unfortunate that ISKCON organised it in Ludhiana on October 6 and Chandigarh on December 1.” He blamed Deb for ISKCON’s “daring” in doing so.
Deb retorted, saying he was “pained” by the allegation. In a statement on Sunday, the first servitor of Lord Jagannath said he was totally opposed to ISKCON organising the yatras at different points.
subhashish_m@yahoo.com
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}