COMMENT RELIGION Ratan Pradhan
The devotees are now sandwiched between faith and humiliation insofar as having a darshan at the Puri temple
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It happened yet again in the sanctified premises of the Puri Jagannath temple. Showing utter disregard to the sanctity of the Srimandir and to the kind of sensitivity and faith of millions of devotees involved therein, some servitors continue to take law into their hands and embarrass the devotees arriving there for daily pooja and prayers. A family was attacked for the reason they refused to pay money to the throng of servitors.
Servitors are supposed to be facilitators for devotees turning up at the temple for prayers. Instead, they are known to behave in rude ways to one and all. Srimandir cannot be a favourite haunt for rouge elements. A pity is that the state government, that has control over the temple, is a mute spectator to such aggressive behavior in a temple of such prominence.
The series of incidents involving servitors has already scared people visiting the temple and thereby earned disrepute to the 12th Century shrine. Such adverse publicity is spread nationally and internationally. The incident of May 20 is only the latest in a series. The family, on a pilgrimage, had been dragged on the floor, their dignity violated, and physical harm caused. And this happened at a time when we are at the doorsteps of a mega spiritual event like the Nabakalebara festival.
Noted Italy-born Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi was manhandled by two priests of the temple on Nandighosha Rath of Lord Jagannath a couple of years ago. That was when she refused to pay them money as dakshina. She had approached Puri police and the temple chief administrator with a complaint, stating that the priests had roughed her up after she turned down their demand for payment of Rs 1,000 as dakshina.
It is not a coincidence that dakshina was also the issue in Tuesday’s incident. The victim, Sanatana Nayak from Bhadrak, alleged that three servitors assaulted him and misbehaved with his wife and daughter during Sahana Mela darshan at the temple. The servitors dragged his wife and daughter to the sanctum sanctorum and asked for dakshina when they were paying obeisance to the deities at Kalahaat gate of the temple, he has stated. This is a grave provocation, and strict action should be taken against the guilty. In most such cases, the issue ends with a warning. This will not do.
It is quite unfortunate that neither the state government nor the Sri Jagannath temple administration exercises any control over unruly servitors. These burly men start their tricks on devotees from the very gates. Orderly behavior is the last thing that happens with them. It is high time the government and the temple administration put the house in order. An alternative system may be contemplated without further loss of time. May be, an independent group of priests could be appointed by the government to take care of the temple affairs and facilitate smooth darshan for the large throng of devotees. There should be a serious debate in the media and among the public with active participation from the devotees. That should help put in place an effective system through which the sanctity of the temple and Oriya pride could be preserved.
The vulgar show of physical might by these heavily-built men, who adorn themselves with gold, well reveal their lifestyle, as also project their affluence. Greed knows no bounds. It is important that these men conduct themselves with dignity. Feelings are that they have enough of firepower to pressurize the government to allow them have their way. It is time the local administration steps in and set things right.
The devotees are now sandwiched between faith and humiliation insofar as having a darshan at the Puri temple – where, instead, a pious atmosphere should prevail. Prayers are to be offered in peace, and not of course amid provocations from servitors. Everything must have its dignity.