Puri Shankaracharya skips Parikrama project inauguration

Bhubaneswar: Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalanand Saraswati was not in attendance at the inauguration of Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor project at the Holy Town today.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) had formally invited the seer to the inaugural ceremony of the mega project some days ago.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa after culmination of a three-day Yagna at Puri today. Gajapati king Dibyasingha Dev presided over the rituals ahead of the inaugural ceremony.

“The SJTA had formally invited Shankaracharya Swami Nischalanand Saraswati to the inauguration of Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa at Puri. However, the seer could not attend the inaugural ceremony due to pre-scheduled events,” said Gobardhan Peeth spokesperson Matruprasad Mishra.

According to Mishra, the Gajapati king and senior officials of the SJTA, including the Chief Administrator of the shrine, had met the Shankaracharya in Raipur some days ago and invited him to the inauguration of the mega project. The officials also explained details regarding the project to the seer.

“The Puri Shankaracharya is now in West Bengal due to the ongoing Ganga Sagar Mela at the neighbouring state. As per tradition, the seer takes the first holy dip at the fair followed by other devotees. The fair kicked off on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on January 15,” said Mishra.

Traditionally, the Gobardhan Peeth sets up a camp at the annual Ganga Sagar Mela. Swami Nischalanand Saraswati, as the head of Gobardhan Peeth, used to present at the camp, Mishra added.

“This year too, the Shankaracharya has graced the camp at Ganga Sagar Mela,” he said.