Holy row over Jain temple at Badrinath

Holy row over Jain temple at Badrinath
S.M.A. KAZMI

DEHRADUN, JULY 10: A bitter controversy has erupted over the construction of a Jain temple at Badrinath dham, one of the most revered shrines of the Hindus. Various Hindu organisations have threatened to launch an agitation and some individuals have even threatened immolation.

Sanatani Hindus, who consider Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines located in theHimalayas as their most revered temples, are opposed to the construction of aJain temple at Devdarshani, gateway to the famous Badrinath shrine. Theyallege that if the Jain temple is allowed to come up at Badrinath, it wouldthreaten the age-old ``cultural and religious traditions'' of Badrinath-Kedarnath temples.

Various religious Hindu leaders and other organisations have come up againstthe construction of the Jain temple. Already, two meetings between the Hindu and Jain leaders have taken place to resolve the dispute. Construction was suspended following intense opposition and it was assured by the Jain religious leaders that only a prayer hall would be built at the proposed site.

But this has failed to ally the apprehensions of the Sanatani Hindus. VinodNautiyal, president of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Mandir Samiti, has said thatthe Jain community should not do anything that hurts the religious sentiments of the majority community. He said that according to the local Mandir Samiti Act, no other temple-like structure can be allowed to come up within a radius of one kilometre around the Badrinath temple. He urged the Chamoli district administration to inquire into the matter and take appropriate measures.

Uday Singh Rawat, convenor of the Uttarakhand Dharam Rakshak Samiti, hasalleged that influential people are encouraging the construction of the Jain temple. He has warned that an agitation will be launched to stop the construction of Jain temple and has even threatened to immolate himself if the demands of the Hindus were not met.

Bhriguvanshacharya, a renowned scholar of Ramanuj sect said that any attempt to undermine the sanctity of Badrinath-Kedarnath dhams by anyone would be ``intolerable''.

Meanwhile, Dhirendra Shah, chief trustee of the Jain temple, dismissed apprehensions of the Sanatani Hindus about attempts to undermine the sanctity of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temples. He said that only a prayer hall was being constructed as per the approved site plan and that there was no scope of any doubt. He said that two pillars of the building that were erected had been demolished keeping in mind the sentiments of the residents of the area.