A controversy has erupted over the naming and religious sanctity of the newly built Jagannath Temple in Digha, after Daitapati Bhabani Das Mohapatra, a chief servitor of the Shree Jagannath Temple, accused the West Bengal government of committing “adharma” by referring to it as “Jagannath Dham”.
Speaking during his visit to Kolkata on Saturday, Mohapatra issued a strong warning, stating that such actions could lead to “dire consequences.” He is in the city to attend a three-day ‘Mahayajna’ being organised under the aegis of the Puri Jagannath Dham.
Mohapatra on Sunday clarified that while constructing a temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath is a virtuous act, the issue lies in the designation and adherence to scriptural norms.
“Anyone may build a temple, but there are only four Dhams, not five. Adharma never yields a favourable outcome,” he asserted.
He further criticised the Digha temple for allegedly deviating from traditional practices, particularly in the crafting of the deity’s idol. According to him, scriptures mandate that Lord Jagannath’s idol must be made of wood, as is followed in Puri.
“By constructing the idol from stone, they have distanced the Lord from his devotees. How will the Lord hear their prayers?” he questioned.
Reiterating his stance, Mohapatra described the Digha structure as a cultural centre rather than a true religious structure. He also hinted that such initiatives might be politically motivated, though he refrained from making direct electoral comments.
“One should never politicise the Divine. God stands above all, while politics occupies a much lower place,” he remarked.
Drawing parallels with past incidents in Odisha, he claimed that similar acts of “sacrilege” had led to visible consequences there as well.
“Whenever any act of adharma is committed against Lord Jagannath, I, as a member of the Daitapati lineage, will raise my voice,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mohapatra also announced a grand ‘Mahayajna’ scheduled to be held from April 17 to April 19 at the FD Block grounds in Salt Lake. The event is being organised for global peace and the welfare of humanity, with lakhs of devotees expected to attend.
The event will feature the display of 32 forms of Lord Jagannath, along with daily evening aartis, religious discourses, bhajans, and kirtans. Organisers have also arranged for the distribution of Mahaprasad free of cost to over one million devotees.
Highlighting the broader purpose of the event, Mohapatra said the ritual aims to invoke peace amid growing instability across the world, the nation, and within society.
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