Bhubaneswar: The newly constructed Jagannath temple in Digha, West Bengal, has sparked significant religious and cultural controversy after being referred to as ‘Jagannath Dham,’ a term traditionally reserved for the sacred city of Puri in Odisha. In response, the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri and the Odisha government have firmly rejected this usage and have warned of legal action if corrective measures are not taken.
In an official statement released on May 5, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, King of Puri and Adya Sevak (first servitor) of Bhagwan Jagannath, asserted that only Shree Purushottama Kshetra, commonly known as Shreekhetra or Puri, possesses the spiritual and scriptural legitimacy to be referred to as ‘Jagannath Dham.’
“The sanctity and identity of Jagannath Dham are inextricably tied to Puri. According to ancient scriptures and religious practices upheld by Mukti Mandap scholars at Srimandir, no other place can assume this sacred title,” he stated.
Referring to the authority of Mukti Mandap, a traditional body of scholars at Puri Srimandir, the world-renowned 12th-century Vaishnavite shrine in Odisha, the Gajapati Maharaja affirmed that, according to scriptures, the three deities must be made exclusively from sacred neem wood (Daru). The construction of vigrahas using any metal or stone is not sanctioned by tradition, and worshipping such vigrahas is deemed inappropriate.
Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb also noted that any offerings made to Bhagwan Jagannath and His divine siblings in temples outside of Srimandir should not be referred to as ‘Mahaprasad,’ as this does not align with scriptural injunctions.
No Sacred Daru Used in Digha Vigrahas: Law Minister
Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan dismissed claims that surplus sacred Daru wood from Puri’s Nabakalebar rituals was used in the Digha temple.
“After consultations with temple servitors and Maharana sculptors from Puri, it is absolutely clear that no sacred wood was used. The narrative about balaka daru (surplus sacred wood) being transported to Digha is completely false and misleading,” the Minister stated at a press briefing.
He further clarified that the vigrahas at Digha were carved from ordinary neem wood by Sudarshan Maharana, a sculptor based in Bhubaneswar, and were later handed over to servitor Ramakrishna Dasmahapatra. “Senior servitor Dasmahapatra, who previously claimed that sacred wood was used, has now retracted his statement. This misinformation caused emotional distress among devotees and is currently under review,” Harichandan added.
In light of this dispute, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has submitted a report detailing the incident and proposed the issuance of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Jagannath temples across the country.
“While temples of Bhagwan Jagannath can be established anywhere, there must be uniformity in rituals and terminology. The SOP will help safeguard authenticity,” the Minister stated, adding that the recommendations would be reviewed soon by the Odisha Chief Minister.
The Odisha Law Minister has condemned the use of ‘Jagannath Dham’ for the newly constructed temple at Digha in West Bengal. Consequently, the Odisha government will urge the West Bengal government to stop using the term ‘Dham’. Similarly, the name ‘Mahodadhi’ for Digha beach will also be requested for removal. He stated that legal avenues will be explored if West Bengal fails to comply with these requests.
Expressing strong objections, Harichandan clarified that the term ‘Dham’ is a sacred identifier reserved for only four places in Hindu tradition: Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameswaram, and Puri.
“No other place has the spiritual or scriptural legitimacy to be called a Dham. Associating the Digha temple with the term ‘Jagannath Dham’ is a clear misrepresentation and can mislead the faithful,” he stated.
In a related issue, the Odisha government has strongly objected to the naming of Digha’s coastal area as ‘Mahodadhi’, a term traditionally reserved for the sea adjacent to Puri, as described in Jagannath religious texts.
“The term Mahodadhi is an integral part of the sacred geography of Puri. Its usage elsewhere is inappropriate and undermines Odisha’s religious identity,” said Harichandan.
The Odisha government has decided to formally communicate its concerns to the West Bengal government, urging the immediate removal of these misleading terminologies. “If our demands are not met, we will explore all legal options. We will not allow any distortion of Jagannath culture and traditions,” the Minister affirmed.
“We will not allow anyone to distort or replicate the unique traditions of Jagannath culture, which are deeply rooted in the soil and soul of Odisha.”
“The wrongful use of sacred terminology, false claims about vigraha -making, and the portrayal of alternate centres as ‘Dhams’ are not just disrespectful; they are potentially divisive and dangerous,” he said.
In response to growing protests and backlash from religious groups, political leaders, and devotees, the West Bengal government has reportedly removed the ‘Jagannath Dham’ signage from the Digha temple premises, as informed by Amit Malviya.
After strong protests from devotees of Prabhu Jagannath, the West Bengal government was forced to quietly remove the misleading ‘Dham’ signage in Digha. This is a significant victory for Hindu unity and a setback to Mamata Banerjee’s divisive agenda. When Hindus stand united, no… pic.twitter.com/T77OCyNZiz
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 5, 2025
Confirming the development, BJP leader Amit Malviya posted on X, stating: “After strong protests from devotees of Prabhu Jagannath, the West Bengal government was forced to quietly remove the misleading ‘Dham’ signage in Digha. This is a significant victory for Hindu unity and a setback to Mamata Banerjee’s divisive agenda. When Hindus stand united, no political manipulation can succeed. Jai Jagannath!”
