While ordering opening of the prayer hall (Jagamohan) of the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri to devotees by April 16, the Orissa High Court has also ordered the temple administration and the district administration to ensure that no devotee, howsoever important, is allowed entry into the sanctum sanctorum (Garvagruha) of the shrine.
“Darshan of the deities in the temple by the devotees, including the VIPs, shall be allowed only up to Bhitar Katha. Only Sevaks having actual Seva in the Garvagruha on any particular day should be allowed to enter into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple as per the rituals,” said the High Court in its order passed on Tuesday.
This direction of the court, if implemented, will completely debar all devotees and some servitors from going up to the Ratna Singhasan of the deities. On two special occasions each day, Sahanamela and Parimanik Darshan, devotees are allowed to go up to the Ratna Singhasan to have the closest darshan of the deities.
During Sahanmela, which takes place every day in the morning after Abakash Niti, the devotees were allowed up to the Ratna Singhasan without paying any fees to the temple administration. During Parimanik Darshan at certain times of the day, the VIPs were allowed to go up to the Ratna Singhasan by paying a fee of Rs 100 per head.
Debarring the devotees from going into the Garvagruha by the High Court came when the court was informed by the counsels of the temple and the Government that the Judicial Commission on Temple Reform in one of its interim report had made a similar recommendation and the same has been accepted by the Government with a direction to implement it.