Puri's King Fights for 'Jagannath Dham' Exclusivity

Puri's titular king, Divyasingha Deb, issued a strong appeal to the ISKCON leaders this Wednesday, urging them to influence the Digha temple trust to rename their newly established temple in West Bengal, excluding the revered 'Jagannath Dham' title.

Divyasingha Deb highlighted that Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati and Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda have asserted Puri as the exclusive 'Purushottama-kshetra' and 'Jagannath Dham'. ISKCON's significant role in rituals at Digha's temple underscores the necessity to respect the sanctity reserved for Puri.

The issue, underscored by the Puri seer's statement about economic stakes and Bengali pilgrims, showcases an ongoing traditional versus economic interest dispute, influencing decisions on temple nomenclature and tourism in West Bengal and Odisha.

(With inputs from agencies.)