Bhubaneswar: The Khurda district Collector and president of Lingaraj temple trust board Sanat Kumar Mohanty wrote a letter to the National Monuments Authority (NMA) Thursday demanding the withdrawal of the heritage by-law framed for Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar.
Also read: Transport Ministry approves 3 six-lane road projects in Odisha
“Lord Lingaraj Temple and all the properties belonging to Lord Lingaraj in land records stands recorded in the name of Lord Lingaraj Mohaprabhu. To manage the temple, affair of sevaks (Priests) and all the movable and immovable properties of Lord Lingaraj, a Trust Board has been constituted as a statutory body under Section 42 of OHRE Act, 1952,” the district Collector Mohanty wrote to NMA.
“It was to get the technical know-how of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for conservation of the ancient built structure, the trustees of Lord Lingaraj Temple Trust Board entered into an agreement with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on 10th February 1958. The agreement restricts & codifies duties and responsibilities of ASI vis-a-vis Temple Trust. The bare reading of agreement indicates that the importance of Lord Lingaraj Temple as one of the Shiva Pitha for hindus all over the world was given due consideration, when the Trust Board agreed to involve ASi in certain conservation works of ancient built structures,” the District Collector wrote in his letter.
“Large numbers of habitations (Sahis) which are more than millennium old also exist around the Temple. These habitations are of mainly Sevayats families, who have been rendering services to the Lord since time immemorial. As they are likely to be severely and adversely affected by an intervention of the authorities like this draft notification, they must be consulted before any process to restrict their rights is undertaken by National Monument Authority (NMA). This is also important as any adverse impact on Sevayats have a direct bearing on continuity of Niti Kanti (rituals) of Lord Lingaraj,” letter of the Lingaraj temple trust board mentioned.
“It is also important to note that every day very large number of Hindu devotees from across India and abroad visit Bhubaneswar for darshan of Lingaraj Mahaprabhu. It is a very very special occasion on Maha Shivaratri Day that the Shaiva Hindu Devotees throughout the world wait to see the Mahadeep on the Temple top of Lingaraj Temple through e-media and there after used to take food. It is a statutory duty & responsibility of Lord Lingaraj Temple Management to make arrangements for amenities & facilities for them. The number of pilgrims & devotees cross more than thousands, especially on holidays & weekends and on each Monday,” the letter mentioned.
“Recently, the State Government has acquired lands & properties for strengthening safety & security of the centuries old Shrine also beautification of the peripheral areas for the projects under Ekamra Development Plan. This project will also provide pilgrims with facilities such as drinking water, cloak rooms and Queue Management System. These properties have been acquired by the State Government through negotiations and most of the people have come forward to contribute their lands & properties for the purpose of this project. This was possible because of the deep religious & spiritual connection with Lord Lingaraj of the people who owned these properties. These people agreed to part away with their ancestral properties for the comforts of millions of devotees who visit Bhubaneswar to catch a glimpse of Lord Lingaraj at Lingaraj Temple,” the letter read.
Notably, the draft rules prohibit construction works around the temple. The State government has already cleared structures up to 75 metre distance around the temple to develop a heritage corridor.
PNN