By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 22, 2019: Even as the State cabinet on Monday approved Rs 3208 crore under the ABADHA (Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture) scheme for development of Puri town over a period of three years to make Puri a world-class heritage city, Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati Tuesday said the Holy City should not be made a place for ‘Bhoga’ (enjoyment) in the name of development.

He, however, welcome the government’s decision to hand over the control of the Govardhan Math to Puri Shankaracharya by taking it out of the purview of the Orissa Hindu Religious Endowment Act, 1951, but with a rider.

“The government’s decision would be welcomed if there was no diplomacy behind it”, he said.

The State government’s decision follows controversies in late August following the demolition of several ancient Mutts including the historic Emar Mutt and Languli Mutt by the State government citing security threat to the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri. The government came under flak over the demolition of Emar Mutt that once saved people in Odisha during the famine of 1866.

The government controls over 16000 temples and 450 Mutts (Hindu monasteries) in the state through the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowment Act by appointing trustees for each temple or Mahants for the mutts for day-to-day management and is the sole arbiter as regards to the sale of mutt properties.

The Supreme Court earlier this month had asked the State government to seek suggestions from religious leaders like Shankaracharya and other stakeholders before demolishing such monasteries after several Hindu seers approached the apex court for relief.

The Puri Shankaracharya who is also the permanent head of the Muktimandap of Jagannath temple by virtue of his position had expressed his unhappiness over not being consulted over the demolition drive and called it an “attack on the Hindu religion and traditions”.

The seer claimed that the Gobardhan Mutt has been wrongly put under the purview of the Shree Jagannath Temple Act. “The landed properties of Gobardhan Mutt have been recorded in the name of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee. The state government should send a representative to us to deliberate on the issue and take our suggestions,” Saraswati said.

The Shankaracharya asked the state government to keep Gobardhan Mutt out of the purview of Srimandir administration. He also pleaded for immediate abolition of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee.

“The managing panel has violated religious and spiritual systems. Srimandir is getting disrepute due to some unruly servitors. The Gajapati Maharaja has also been sidelined. Gobardhan Mutt should be allowed to manage Srimandir affairs,” Saraswati said.

The seer claimed that the sanctity of Srimandir would be best maintained if Gobardhan Mutt is allowed to manage it.

“The Adi Shankaracharya had reinstalled the idols of the presiding deities at Srimandir. Gobardhan Mutt has right over the shrine. The mutt must not be deprived of its rights,” said the seer.