Dumka: A repair initiative at the renowned temple of Baba Baidyanath Dham has sparked outrage after priests alleged tampering with the sacred shivalingam, drawing strong protests from the local priest community.
The temple management initiated repairs on Saturday afternoon, temporarily closing the sanctum sanctorum and reducing the time for offerings. However, when priests entered for early morning puja on Sunday, they reportedly discovered cement-like material on the Shivalingam, triggering widespread resentment.
The incident gained attention after video footage of the alleged cement work on the Shivalingam went viral on social media. Senior members of the Panda Dharmarakshini Sabha, the local priest body, accused the temple management of hurting religious sentiments of both the priest community and the devotees.
Gulab Nand Ojha, the head priest of the temple, cited a court directive, stating that the temple management cannot undertake any work inside the sanctum sanctorum without consulting the Sardar Panda (head priest). He termed the administrative action ‘an attack on religion'.
Suresh Bhardwaj, the president of the temple's priest body, also criticized the management's unilateral decision and announced plans to seek the chief minister's intervention for strict action against those responsible.
Responding to the allegations, Deoghar SDO (civil) and temple in-charge Ravi Kumar defended the repair work, stating that the priest body had previously requested floor repairs inside the sanctum sanctorum. He explained that the work was conducted around 2:45 pm on Saturday, using black cement to fix floor cracks, which may have accidentally scattered near the shivalingam.
Kumar questioned the delayed reaction from the priest body, noting that the shringari puja was performed the same evening without any complaints. "If there was any tampering with the shivalingam's originality, it should have been reported immediately, not after 24 hours," he stated, dismissing the allegations.
Deoghar deputy commissioner Vishal Sagar meanwhile has ordered a probe into the matter.