Should the New Digha Temple Be Named 'Jagannath Dham'?

Bhubaneswar, May 5 (NationPress) In the midst of the heated debate surrounding the recently inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha, West Bengal, King of Puri, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, known as the "Adya-sevak" or First Servitor of Lord Jagannatha, has appealed to temple officials to refrain from using the title ‘Jagannath Dham’ and to respect the long-standing traditions and heritage of the Moola-peetha Shreemandira in Puri.

“I earnestly encourage the management of Digha Jagannatha Temple to avoid naming it "Jagannath Dham" or "Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre". Temples dedicated to Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha globally should safeguard and promote the esteemed heritage of Lord Jagannatha, in alignment with the declarations found in sacred texts and the rich traditions of the Moola-peetha Shreemandira located in Shree Jagannatha Dham Puri,” the Puri King stated.

“To dishonor or disregard the time-honored customs and heritage of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha would deeply offend the religious sentiments of numerous devotees worldwide,” he further emphasized.

Upon learning of the Shree Jagannatha Temple in Digha being designated as "Jagannath Dham" or "Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre", the Gajapati sought the counsel of the Muktimundupa Pundita Sabha at Puri Jagannatha Temple on May 3.

The Sabha informed the king that the Moola-peetha of Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu is identified as Purushottama-kshetra (Puri) and that terms like "Jagannatha Dham", "Purushottama-kshetra", "Shreekshetra", and "Neelachala Dham" specifically pertain to Puri and should not be applied to any other location where Chaturdha Daru Vigrahas have been consecrated.

“It’s essential to note that the glory of Shree Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu is most authentically and elaborately described by Maharshi Veda Vyasa in 'Shree Purushottama-kshetra Mahatmyam', which is part of the 'Vaishnava Khanda' of the Skanda Purana.

By referencing various texts related to Puri Jagannath Temple, Deb highlighted that sacred Hindu scriptures such as Skanda Purana, Brahma-Purana, Neeladri Mahodaya, and others definitively affirm that Shree Purushottamakshetra Puri is the eternal and most sacred home of Shree Purushottama-Jagannatha.

He also pointed out that throughout history, the esteemed Founder-Acharyas of various traditional sampradayas of Sanatana Vaidika Dharma, including Bhagavatpada Adi Shankaracharya, Shree Ramanujacharya, Shree Nimbarkacharya, Shree Madhvacharya, Shree Ramanandacharya, Shree Chaitanya, and Shree Vallabhacharya, have recognized Puri as the sacred Shree Jagannatha Dham.

The King asserted that based on the Muktimundupa Pundita Sabha’s letter and references in sacred texts, only the town of Puri can be designated as Jagannatha Dham.

“For the reasons stated above, as mentioned by the Muktimundupa Pundita Sabha in their letter dated May 4, 2025, it is exclusively Puri and no other location that can be referred to as Jagannatha Dham, Purushottama Dham, Kshetra, Shreekshetra, or Neelachala Dham,” Deb remarked.

Additionally, he asserted that the Moolapeetha of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha in Puri should solely be referred to as "Shreemandira".

“The Muktimundupa Pundita Sabha has also indicated that Chaturdha Vigrahas should exclusively be worshipped in 'Daru' (wood) form, not in metal or stone images, and that only the offerings made in Shreemandira are to be termed as 'Mahaprasada',” the Puri King concluded.