The Jagannath temple in Puri perhaps is the only major Hindu shrine in the country which continues with the centuries old ‘Hindus only’ policy.

Non-Hindus are strictly prohibited from entering into the premises of the 12th century temple. This is also applicable for those who have been converted to Hinduism from other religions.

  Tension prevails in the famous shrines more than once every year as eager non-Hindu Jagannath devotees, either knowingly or unknowingly, make attempts to enter the temple premises. Just a few days back a devotee from Germany was seen arguing with the security personnel in front of the temple as he was stopped from entering the shrine.
 Now more bad news seems to be on the cards for the non-Hindu Jagannath devotees as a strong demand has been made to impose a ban on their presence even on the three colourful chariots of the deities of the Puri temple during the annual Rath Yatra festival. 

The demand has gained momentum following the recent ugly incident involving the Italy-born Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi and a couple of servitors during the annual religious event celebrated last month. The Padmashree awardee dancer was reportedly manhandled by the two servitors while she was on Nandighosa, the chariot of Jagannath, the principal presiding deity of the Puri temple.

As expected, a powerful section of the temple servitors is in the forefront of the demand to ban the non-Hindus from climbing the chariots to offer prayers to the deities. Responding to the demand, the Jagannath temple administration has left the matter to the Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati to take a final call on it. The servitors have said they will abide by the decision of the widely respected seer.

The servitors want the ban on the ground that the presence of non-Hindus creates unnecessary tension and disturbance which have to be prevented for the smooth conduct of the rituals on the chariots. To push their point home, they give the example of the recent Ileana episode as well as a similar incidents that had taken place earlier. In the last year’s incident, tension prevailed as on one of the three chariots an American married to an Indian woman had a scuffle with a few servitors over some issues. The US national’s Indian wife had strongly protested and registered a case with the police.

Strong objection

Keeping in mind last year’s episode, the temple administration, on the eve of this year’s Rath Yatra, had imposed a ban on all devotees — both Hindu and non-Hindus – climbing on the chariots. However, that had to be withdrawn within a few days following pressure from the servitors who strongly objected the administration’s decision to prevent Hindu devotees from climbing the chariots. 

It may be noted here that the servitors earn handsome “dakshinas”(donations) from the devotees while helping them in offering prayers to the deities.There is a belief among the devotees that one would earn god’s blessings for one crore births if one can offer prayers to the deities on the Raths (chariots). This belief drives many devotees to rush to the three chariots.  

If not all at least a section of the Hindu devotees feel that it will be extremely harsh on their non-Hindus counterparts if a decision is taken to prevent them from climbing the chariots during the Rath Yatra. For, it is only one occasion when they get an opportunity to see the deities from close quarters and offer their prayers.

In fact, there is saying in Odisha that Jagannath, the principal presiding deity of the Puri shrine, belongs to devotees irrespective their caste, creed and religion. As non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple, the god comes out of his abode once in a year during Rath Yatra festival to allow his non-Hindu devotees to see him from close quarters and offer prayers. It may be noted here that Sal Baig, a Muslim, is considered as one of the ardent and famous Jagannath devotees of all times. A number of Bhajans (devotional songs) have been recorded in Odia in his name.

Those who are against the demand for ban on non-Hindus on Chariots also question the servitors’ claim that as per tradition only Hindu devotees are allowed to climb the Raths during the Rath Yatra also popularly known as the Car Festival. If that is the case then how non-Hindus were being allowed since last several years to climb the chariots and even touch the deities. 

There are instances of a section of the servitors themselves taking the non-Hindu devotees to the Raths to offer prayers to the deities from close quarters.

Now, the decision of the Shankaracharya on the issue is keenly awaited. However, many analysts are of the view that the Hindu non-Hindu controversy and the debate surrounding it is unlikely to stop even after the seer pronounces his decision.

Source: Deccan Herald, August 6, 2013