The ongoing controversy over the naming of the newly constructed Lord Jagannath temple in Digha took a significant turn after Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati strongly objected to the use of the term ‘Dham’ for the shrine.
In a clear and assertive statement, the Shankaracharya emphasized that only the Puri temple in Odisha holds the legitimate status of being called “Jagannath Dham.”
“The word ‘Dham’ should not be used as there is only one ‘Dham’ of Lord Jagannath, which is in Puri. A ‘Dham’ can only be in one place. It would not be right to call this temple as ‘Dham’,” he said.
The seer’s remarks come amid escalating tensions between Odisha and West Bengal after a hoarding reading “Jagannath Dham” appeared at the entrance of the Digha temple. Following public outrage and political criticism, the signage was briefly removed but later reinstated, further fueling the row.
Religious and cultural voices in Odisha have raised concerns over what they see as an attempt to dilute the sanctity and singularity of Puri, considered one of the four Char Dhams in Hinduism. The Shankaracharya’s statement is expected to add further pressure on the West Bengal government to review the temple’s designation.
The Odisha government had earlier warned of possible legal action against the unauthorized use of religious terms linked to Puri’s Jagannath temple, which is not just a regional symbol but a national spiritual heritage site.
As of now, no official statement has been issued by the West Bengal government in response to the Shankaracharya’s remarks.
