Puri Shankaracharya Jagadguru Nischalananda Saraswati and Devi Subhadra’s Badagarhi (custodian) Ramachandra Das Mohapatra have opposed the installation of a ramp and entry of wheelchairs to the Jagannath Temple stating that the system is against the temple custom and tradition.
The Shankaracharya said the administration should act within its limits and should never intervene in the age-old customs and traditions of the temple.
last week, the seer had slammed the administration for laying the ramp at the North Gate of the 12th-century shrine, thereby allowing entry of differently-abled devotees by wheelchairs. He had maintained that ramp was laid only during the entry of holy logs (Darus) during the Nabakalebar of the deities.
Meanwhile, Ramachandra Das Mohapatra too opposed the ramp system and criticised the temple and district administration saying the advice of the Shankaracharya in this regard was necessary.
“During the controversy over climbing chariots, the temple administration had sought the suggestion of the Shankaracharya and followed his advice,” said the servitor, adding that then why the Shankaracharya was not consulted before the installation of the ramp and entry of wheelchairs at the shrine.
On Thursday, the Jagannath Temple administration laid the ramp and facilitated entry of 140 differently-abled devotees from Gujarat.
The temple administration had provided special vehicles and wooden wheelchairs to the persons to be taken inside the temple. Apparently, there is no written rule yet on either allowing or disallowing wheelchairs into the shrine.