Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati alleges economic motives behind West Bengal’s Digha Jagannath Temple. He criticizes Mamata Banerjee and ISKCON, while Odisha CM opposes naming the temple ‘Jagannath Dham’. Controversy escalates ahead of Puri’s Ratha Yatra as Odisha moves to protect Jagannath temple heritage.
The revered Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, has strongly criticized the construction and naming of the newly-inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha, West Bengal, calling it a move driven by business motives rather than spiritual intentions. Addressing a press conference on Thursday in the sacred coastal town of Puri, the seer accused the West Bengal Government of using the name of Lord Jagannath for economic gain.
Swami Nischalananda stated that the naming of the temple as “Jagannath Dham” by the West Bengal government is an attempt to divert religious tourism and associated income from Puri to Digha. “Most of the pilgrims visiting Puri come from West Bengal. This influx supports a vast local economy, including priests, hotels, and various businesses. Mamata (West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) wants to retain this economic benefit within her own state by invoking the name of Lord Jagannath,” said the Shankaracharya. “This is clearly a question of economic interests and has nothing to do with genuine religious sentiment.”
The seer also took a swipe at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), accusing the organisation of being directionless, especially for conducting untimely observances such as Ratha Yatra and Snana Yatra, which do not align with traditional religious calendars.
The controversy has deepened over the past few weeks after Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi formally objected to the naming of the Digha temple as “Jagannath Dham.” In a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, CM Majhi urged her to reconsider the naming, pointing out that “Jagannath Dham” refers exclusively to the 12th-century shrine in Puri, which holds immense religious and historical significance.
The Digha temple, which was inaugurated by CM Banerjee on April 30, is reportedly a close replica of the original Jagannath Temple in Puri. However, the controversy does not stop at nomenclature. There was an additional uproar regarding the preparation and distribution of Prasad (holy offerings) by Muslim shopkeepers near the Digha temple, which some viewed as disrespectful to the sanctity of the tradition.
In response to the growing concerns over religious appropriation and cultural misrepresentation, the Odisha government last month initiated steps to secure a patent on various elements associated with the Puri Jagannath Temple. This includes a glossary of terms linked to the deities and the temple’s unique logo, with the goal of preserving the sanctity and authenticity of the original shrine.
While these controversies continue to stir emotions in both states, the holy town of Puri is preparing for the upcoming nine-day-long Ratha Yatra festival, one of the largest and most significant Hindu festivals. Scheduled to commence on June 27, the event draws lakhs of devotees from across India and the world. In anticipation, the city has been placed under a stringent five-tier security arrangement to ensure a smooth and safe celebration.
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The timing of the controversy around the Digha temple, just ahead of the Ratha Yatra, has added a layer of political and religious sensitivity. While religious leaders in Odisha seek to preserve the uniqueness and spiritual stature of Puri as the original abode of Lord Jagannath, critics allege that the West Bengal government is using religious symbolism as a vehicle for regional tourism and economic gain.
As the debate intensifies, both religious sentiments and interstate relations continue to hang in the balance, prompting calls for mutual respect, cultural sensitivity, and administrative dialogue.
