Faced with the public rage and criticism over the State Government and Shri Jagannath Temple Administration’s (SJTA) action that led to the staying away of Puri Gobardhanpeeth Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Nischilananda Saraswati from having darshan of the deities and offering traditional prayer atop chariots during the Car Festival this year, two senior officers in-charge of the festival discussed the situation with Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra on Thursday.
Expressing his displeasure over the absence of Shankaracharya during the RathYatra, the Gajapati King, who happens to be the Chairman of the SJTA, had shot off a letter to the temple administration and the Government to solve the sensitive issue with care by respecting the religious institutions linked to the Rath Yatra.
After the meeting that continued over one hour, Chief Administrator of SJTA Aravinda Padhi said that the issue as raised by the Gajapati King would be discussed in details at the next meeting of the managing committee of which the king is the Chairman and efforts would be made to solve the controversy amicably.
He said that all possible steps would be taken to solve the problem and the SJTA is committed to preserve the sanctity of the religious institutions and honour the religious traditions. Padhi said that the king had already thanked the temple administration for hassle-free conduct of the Rath Yatra.
Padhi along with Water Resources Secretary Suresh Mohapatra who was the special officer for smooth conduct of the fest held discussions with the Chief Secretary. They briefed the Chief Secretary on the smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra and the measures taken to ensure smooth conduct of the Return Car Festival (Bahuda Yatra), the Suna Besha and the Niladri Bije of the lords with rituals associated with the nine-day festival.
It may be reminded that while the issue of the absence of Shankaracharya had evoked reactions from all quarters, Excise Minister Damodar Rout had taken exception to the SJTA’s action. The Nikhila Utkal Matha Mandiradhisha Seva Sangha had demanded apology from the SJTA for the lapses.
While the Gajapati king had disapproved of the actions of the SJTA in putting conditions on Shankaracharya in performing his traditional neetis atop chariots, the Shankaracharya in a hard hitting statement had said the motive of the Government was to defame him and create an unpleasant situation during his visit to the chariots to offer prayers to the deities.