BHUBANESWAR: Day after the Odisha government cleared an ordinance to govern Lingaraj temple, Union petroleum and steel minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday wrote to chief minister Naveen Patnaik seeking to bring similar legislations to govern four other prominent shrines in different parts of the state.
In a letter addressed to Naveen, Dharmendra requested separate laws for Biraja temple in Jajpur, Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur, Tara Tarini Temple in Ganjam and Nilamadhab Temple in Nayagarh. “Such legal provisions will bring high standard of accountability to the management of the temples with necessary budgeting, planning and audits. It will also safeguard the long-term interest of the temples,” the Union minister wrote.
Stating that the reforms were long overdue, Dharmedra argued that the move will strengthen religious tourism prospects. “Odisha’s temples are not just the pride of the state. These also hold an immeasurable place in the hearts and minds of billion followers of Hinduism….These temples form an intangible resource of spiritual and devotional tourism,” he wrote.
The 13th century Biraja temple, a Shakti shrine where goddess Durga is worshiped as ‘Mahisamardini’ is famous for its own Rath Yatra during Dussehra. Samaleswari is the shrine for Maa Samalai, the presiding deity of major parts of western Odisha. Similarly, Tara Tarinia temple is one of the four ancient Tantra Peetha and Shakti Peetha in country. It is visited the most during Chaitra Mela, a festival held in March-April. Nilamadhab temple in Nayagarh is considered the origin place of Lord Jagannath and holds immense spiritual significance for the people of Odisha.
The government has promulgated an ordinance for 11th century Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar, making it only the second shrine after Jagannath temple in Puri to be governed by a separate law. Other temples are governed by the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowment Act, 1951.
According to the Lingaraj temple ordinance, an IAS officer will be chairman of the temple’s managing committee while another IAS officer or an OAS officer not below the rank of joint secretary will be its administrator. Collector (Khurda) is ex-officio vice-chairman of the committee.
The Jagannath temple is governed by Shri Jagannth Temple Act, 1955. While Puri scion Gajapti Dibya Singh Deb is chairman of the temple’s managing committee, a senior IAS officer (currently Krishan Kumar) is chief administrator of the 12th century temple.