Resentment brewing in U’khand on exploitation of devotion & religious sentiments
Thursday, 18 July 2024 | PURNIMA BISHT | DEHRADUN
The proposed construction of the Kedarnath temple at Buradi in Delhi and the alleged illegal construction of a shrine in the Sunderdhunga Glacier in Bageshwar district highlight a troubling trend of exploiting the people of Uttarakhand under the guise of religious activities. These actions not only threaten the environmental sanctity of Uttarakhand but also undermine the deep-rooted spiritual and cultural values held by the locals since ages. Both instances reveal a broader pattern of disregarding the authentic religious and cultural significance of Uttarakhand, taking advantage of its people’s devotion and faith for personal or commercial gain. This was stated by locals, Teerth Purohits and stakeholders of Char Dham temples in Uttarakhand.
A self-proclaimed godman Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash, allegedly built an unauthorised temple at a height of 16,500 feet near Devi Kund on Bageshwar’s Sunderdhunga glacier. According to the authorities, he claimed that the goddess asked him to build that temple and the villagers possibly helped him to build it. The district administration formed a joint team consisting of officers from the departments of Revenue, Forest and Police to investigate the matter after local villagers expressed their anger over the encroachment. The Teerth Purohits said that nobody should be allowed to build or replicate temples anywhere just for personal or financial gains and the government should act strictly on such issues. The general secretary of Uttarakhand Char Dham Teerth Purohit Mahapanchayat Brijesh Sati said that constructing Kedarnath Dham and associating it with the Char Dham temples goes against the traditional and religious values of Sanatana Dharma. The unique sanctity and cultural significance of the original Kedarnath temple are rooted in its specific location and historical context, which cannot be authentically reproduced elsewhere. He said, “There are innumerable names of Lord Shiva under which temples can be built.
The Shri Kedarnath Dham Delhi Trust that has proposed the construction of Kedarnath temple in Delhi can do the same. Kedarnath is not just the name but holds a unique sanctity that cannot not be created anywhere else.” Another member of Uttarakhand Char Dham Teerth Purohit Mahapanchayat, Rajnikant Semwal also drew a powerful parallel of construction of Kedarnath temple in Delhi to the ancient tale of Ravana attempting to bring Mount Kailash to Lanka. He said, “Just as Ravana’s endeavor was deemed wrong and ultimately failed, building another Kedarnath temple outside its original and sacred location is similarly inappropriate. People should understand that the sanctity and uniqueness of the original Kedarnath temple are intrinsically tied to its specific location and cannot be authentically replicated elsewhere.” He further said, “They are saying that the new Kedarnath temple will remain open throughout the year unlike in Uttarakhand. The Kedarnath temple here remains closed for six months during winter because it is believed that other deities offer prayers to lord Kedarnath during this period. This has been a religious tradition for hundreds of years. One cannot construct another temple just because the original one is not functioning as per their wish.”
Former Dharmadhikari of Badrinath Dham, Uniyal Bhuwan Chandra also questioned the construction of the new Kedarnath temple. He said, “Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas which even Pandavas visited in their time. While people might replicate the structure of Kedarnath, can they truly replicate the majestic Himalayas in Delhi, or the sacred Gaurikund? Can they recreate the rich religious history and spiritual significance of Kedarnath? I heard that the Shri Kedarnath Dham Delhi Trust is even offering lifetime memberships for the new temple. I heard people seeking donations in the name of the new Kedarnath temple. Such things suggest that this project might be driven more by personal gain than by genuine religious devotion. This raises concerns that some individuals are exploiting the deep-seated religious sentiments of devotees for their own benefit.” Some Teerth Purohits also quipped that people have already migrated from the mountains of Uttarakhand and now it seems that the government also wants to relocate lord Kedarnath to Delhi. Sati also said that all Purohits suspended agitation after the assurance of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. However, if the name and picture of Kedarnath will be used for the temple proposed in Delhi, all will resume agitation. “We will also demand the government to ensure outsiders cannot construct temples which are sacred and cultural heritage of Uttarakhand,” he said.
