A significant controversy has erupted following the proposal to construct a Kedarnath temple in Delhi's Burari district. This uproar intensified after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted the bhoomi pujan for the temple. Swami Avimukteshwaranand, the Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, has been particularly vocal against the project, arguing that a symbolic Kedarnath cannot be replicated in Delhi.
The Delhi Kedarnath Temple Controversy
The controversy began when Surendra Rautela, president of the Kedarnath Dham Trust in Burari, made a statement. Rautela, who oversees the bhoomi pujan of the Kedarnath temple in Delhi, stated that the temple would cater to the elderly and those unable to travel to Kedarnath Dham in the Himalayas, allowing them to have Baba's darshan in Delhi.
On July 10, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performed the bhoomi pujan and laid the foundation stone of the Kedarnath temple in Hiranki, Burari, Delhi. This event was met with strong criticism from Jagadguru Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, who questioned the feasibility and legitimacy of replicating the Kedarnath temple elsewhere, particularly in Delhi.
Name Change Announced By Trust founder Amid Protests
After controversy surrounding the name of a new temple in Delhi's Burari, Surendra Rautela, founder of the Shri Kedarnath Dham Delhi Trust, has decided to change its name. Rautela emphasized that the site is a temple, not a dham, acknowledging the hurt feelings caused by its original name, 'Delhi Kedarnath Temple.'
“If sentiments are being hurt by naming the temple to be built in Delhi as Kedarnath Temple, then the trust will change the name of the temple,” he stated.
This move comes after protests from spiritual leaders in Kedarnath against the temple's construction, which is inspired by the historic Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recently attended the groundbreaking ceremony but has no direct ties to the trust.
“Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is a protector of religion. So, he was invited to the programme of laying the foundation stone of the temple. The CM has nothing to do with the temple trust,” Rautela clarified.
'Political Reasons' Behind the Temple's Construction: Shankaracharya's Objections
Swami Avimukteshwaranand strongly opposed the idea of a symbolic Kedarnath temple in Delhi. He argued that Kedarnath belongs in the Himalayas, as stated in ancient texts. He suggested that political motives were behind this initiative.
"There cannot be a symbolic Kedarnath... 12 Jyotirlingas have been mentioned in the Shiv Puran, with name and location... When the address for Kedarnath is in the Himalayas, how can it be in Delhi?", he asserted.
The Shankaracharya also raised concerns about political interference in religious matters, highlighting a recent gold scam in Kedarnath. He accused the authorities of diverting attention from this scandal by focusing on the new temple project.
"There is a gold scam in Kedarnath. Why is that issue not raised? After doing a scam there, now Kedarnath will be built in Delhi? And then there will be another scam. 228kg of gold is missing from Kedarnath... No inquiry has started. Who is responsible for this?... Now they are saying they will build a Kedarnath in Delhi, this cannot happen," he stated.
Protests by Kedar Sabha
The Kedar Sabha, an association of priests, has also voiced their objections. They argued that constructing a replica temple undermines the sanctity of the original Kedarnath shrine in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. From July 12-15, the priests held a three-day protest, raising slogans against the state government.
"We are not against a temple being constructed, but are opposing the construction of Kedarnath temple by a religious trust in Delhi", Pankaj Shukla, the spokesperson for Kedar Sabha, explained their stance.
"Constructing a temple in the name of Kedarnath Dham in Delhi is showing disrespect to the sanctity of the centuries-old Himalayan temple revered by generations of Hindus", Umesh Posti, another representative linked to the priests' association, added.
Objections from Ayodhya Chief Priest
Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, has also expressed his objections to the proposed temple in Delhi. He emphasized that Kedarnath is unique and that building a replica would not provide the same spiritual benefits.
"Kedarnath is unique and will remain so. The Kedarnath temple of Uttarakhand is the abode of the Adishakti and the devotees will not be able to get the results of their prayers in Delhi that they get in Uttarakhand," he asserted.
Acharya Das elaborated that the powers inherent in the Jyotirlingas cannot be replicated in another location.
"There are 12 Jyotirlinga, Kedarnath Ji is among them. It is in Uttarakhand, and it holds supreme powers. The powers of 12 Jyotirlinga are incomparable, hence people go there to seek blessings. If another temple is coming up (in Delhi) with the same name, it will not be in 12 Jyotirlinga. People won't get the same result as a replica of Temple. It is not appropriate to make another temple in the name of Kedarnath, if it has to come, it should have a different name. There is only one Kedarnath Temple and it will remain so," he stated.
Defense by Kedarnath Dham Trust
In response to the criticisms, Surinder Rautela, president of the Kedarnath Dham Trust, defended the project, clarifying that the new temple is merely a temple and not a Dham. He emphasized that the Uttarakhand government is not involved in the construction.
"The temple to be built in Delhi is being constructed by the trust (Shri Kedarnath Dham Trust, Delhi) and it has nothing to do with the Uttarakhand government. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami came on our request for the bhoomi pujan of the temple and the government has nothing to do with it. The temple is built with the support of trustees and many of them belong to Uttarakhand," Rautela stated.
Rautela further mentioned that similar temples named after famous Dhams exist in other cities, such as the Kedarnath Temple in Indore and the Badrinath Temple in Mumbai. These temples were also inaugurated by former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat. He argued that the controversy is politically motivated.
"The controversy over naming the temple being built in Delhi as Shri Kedarnath Dham is just a political stunt that should be avoided. Some leaders are creating controversy just to satisfy their political needs. Uttarakhand's Kedarnath Dham is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. We are just creating a temple in Delhi and there are various such temples in different cities of India," Rautela explained.
Clarification from Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC)
The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), a statutory body under the Shri Badarinath and Shri Kedarnath Mandir Act of 1939, clarified that the Bharatiya Janata Party government had no involvement with the Delhi temple. However, BKTC President Ajendra Ajay noted that the committee was investigating potential misuse of temple names for commercial purposes and considering legal action.
"The state government has nothing to do with the construction of the temple in Delhi. It is being done by an organization named Kedarnath Trust. The state government has offered no financial assistance in its construction. The chief minister attended the stone laying function on the invitation of some seers and public representatives as it was a religious ceremony," Ajay told PTI.
The ongoing controversy reflects the deep reverence and significance attached to the original Kedarnath temple and highlights the complexities involved in replicating such a sacred site elsewhere. The debate underscores the need to balance religious sentiments with practical considerations, ensuring that the sanctity of revered sites is preserved while catering to the needs of devotees.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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