Puri Shankaracharya says Odisha govt neglecting Lord Jagannath

BHUBANESHWAR: The Shankaracharya of Puri has a warning for Naveen Patnaik’s administration --- if it can’t look after Lord Jagannath’s interests it should not count on staying power for too long.

Swami Nischalananda Saraswati who occupies one of Hinduism's holiest positions expressed his unhappiness over how the BJD administration was going about its duties related to the Puri temple during an event on Sunday.

The business of the temple, and its rath yatras, are overseen by the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee which is headed by an IAS officer.

“A handful of people, have made the Jagannath temple a means for their own survival and even a commercial business of it,” said the Shankaracharya. He was expressing his displeasure over the delay in the repair of a significant crack in the hall just outside the sanctum sanctorium of the 12th century monument.

Repair, or the approach to be undertaken, has been under study by the Archeological Survey of India since almost a year now.

“Am not from any political party, but have enough wisdom to know that if the ruling administration can’t do justice toward Sri Jagannath and protect the temple’s traditions, it is understood it will not last long,” he warned.

The Shankaracharya’s comments come days after Dibyasingha Deb, the Maharaj of Puri who carries out important ceremonial duties, complained that Lord Jagannath was being neglected.

During the Nabakalebara last year, the Shankaracharya had been miffed with with the government for what he said was its interference in religious matters.