Aradi: The temple of Baba Akhandalamani, one of the major Shiva shrines in Bhadrak district, was recently in news for wrong reasons after photos showing priests making offerings to the deity in polythene bags went viral in social media, a report said Monday.
The incident drew flak from social media users as the shrine is highly revered among devotees as the deity is believed to be generous in fulfilling their wishes.
People termed the move highly objectionable. The polythene bags have come in handy for devotees and servitors to store offerings and easier to carry.
The shops on temple premises have been emboldened in selling ‘bhogs’ in polythene bags as the residents, temple trust board members and the district administration have never opposed them.
Sources said thousands of devotees from in and outside the state visit the shrine and make offerings comprising various sweet-mixed preparations to the deity.
The temple priests hand out offerings like ‘Ukhuda’, ‘Khuruma’, ‘Chini Mithai’, ‘Gaja’, ‘Nishankudi’, ‘Ladu Muan’ and ‘Suji Mitha’ to the deity as part of ‘Balyabhog’ rituals on behalf of the devotees.
It was alleged that priest hands out these ‘Balyabhogs’ in polythene bags and sheets without thinking about the damage it may cause to the reputation of the shrine.
Social media users have raised questions on the issue of purity during preparations of these offerings. They claimed the servitors need to abide by certain rules during preparations of these offerings.
However, of late they have been noticed deviating from these rules as members of various communities have been allowed to prepare these offerings before they are offered to the deity.
Earlier, the servitors used to purchase the ‘bhogs’ packed in sal leaf packets on behalf of the devotees and offer them to the deity in the sanctum sanatorium. These sal leaf packets were weaved with sticks collected from coconut leaves.
When contacted, former sarpanch Kishore Nayak condemned the use of polythene bags and demanded rules to stop use of these bags.
Temple administrator Bidyadhar Palai said he will talk to concerned authorities and take steps to stop its use in the shrine.
Senior servitor Gokulananda Padhy said he will abide by the rule if the administration takes steps to ban use of polythene bags on the temple premises. PNN
