The Supreme Court has proposed to consider the entry of people from other beliefs into the Jagannath temple at Puri, which has raised a controversy among various sections of people in the State. The apex court perhaps wants that Shree Jagannath should not remain as the universal god only in words but in the true sense of the term.
It can be only possible if people from other religions are allowed to enter into the Jagannath Temple. Even to justify its stand, a former Chief Justice of the apex court has quoted a few lines from the Bhagabat Geeta, where lord Krishna had claimed that all devotees may pray to any God but all their prayers ultimately go to Him. But before citing the slokas from the Geeta, the Justice perhaps has forgotten that other religions like Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism were not found during the Dwapara Yuga. The devotees from other beliefs, according to lord Krishna, were perhaps those who were worshipping lord Siva, lord Ganesh, Goddess Durga, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Goddess Kali, Goddess Saraswati and Hanuman etc. Those were considered as Hindu devotees.
If we claim lord Jagannath is the god of the universe and let people of other faiths enter into the Shreemandir, will the latter like Muslims and Christians accept him to be their GodIJ Without having love, faith, devotion, the devotees of other beliefs will visit Jagannath temple only to satisfy their curiosity, as we all visit zoo to see tigers and lions though we hate them as the man eaters.
Moreover, we have many friends but whom we do not allow to our bedroom or kitchen. We only let those have access to them who are intimate and close. Entrance of an unknown person to our house causes inconvenience. Muslim devotee Salabega was never invited by the lord to visit the temple, rather he was assured to meet Him twice in an year during the Rath Yatra and the Bahuda Yatra on the Bada Danda.
Even lord Jagannath had never invited his devotee Dasia Bauri to give his coconut gift after entering into the temple but returned him from the Singhadwara after accepting his gift by extending his Mahabahu (long arms).
lord Jagannath had allowed his devotee Bandhu Mahanty to His temple and offered Prasad because of he and his family were hungry. Maluni was not allowed to recite Geeta Govinda near the Ratna Singhasan. When the lord has decided the place of his devotees, then who we are to decide on the matter and allow the devotees of other faiths into His templeIJ
The sanctity of the Jagannath Temple only can be maintained by abolishing the hereditary and legal rights of the unruly Sevayats. Educated, devoted and learned persons, those have enough knowledge on Veda, Vedanta, Bhagabata Geeta and other Hindu scriptures should be appointed as the priests of the temple on salary basis like in the Tirupati and Saibaba shrines. Recital of Veda, Vedanta, Geeta, and Bhajans should be a regular affair in the temple premises in order to maintain a religious ambience.