Puri King Urges Digha Temple to Refrain from Using ‘Jagannath Dham’ Title

Bhubaneswar: Amid growing controversy over the naming of the newly consecrated Jagannath Temple in Digha, West Bengal, Puri King Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb—who serves as the Adya Sevak (First Servitor) of Lord Jagannath—has urged temple authorities to refrain from using terms like “Jagannath Dham” or “Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre.”

In an official statement issued on Monday, the Gajapati expressed concern that the use of such titles undermines the sanctity and heritage of the original Moola-peetha Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. “Temples of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha around the world should honour and uphold the glorious heritage of Lord Jagannatha, as established in sacred scriptures and age-old traditions,” he said.

The statement followed reports that the Digha temple was being referred to as “Jagannath Dham,” a title traditionally reserved for the sacred temple town of Puri, known as Purushottama-kshetra. Concerned by the matter, the Gajapati sought the opinion of the Muktimandapa Pundita Sabha—an authoritative religious body of Puri’s Jagannath Temple—on May 3.

In their response, the Sabha reaffirmed that terms like “Jagannath Dham,” “Purushottama-kshetra,” “Shreekshetra,” and “Neelachala Dham” are deeply rooted in scriptures such as the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, and Neeladri Mahodaya, and must exclusively refer to Puri, the original and eternal abode of Lord Jagannath.

Citing these references, the Gajapati said, “The glory of Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu is most authentically and comprehensively expounded by Maharshi Veda Vyasa in the Purushottama-kshetra Mahatmyam of the Vaishnava Khanda of Skanda Purana.”

He also noted that numerous revered Acharyas of various Sanatana Dharma traditions—including Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and others—have acknowledged Puri as the one true Jagannath Dham.

Further, the Gajapati emphasized that the main temple at Puri is the only place that can be referred to as Shreemandira, and that the Chaturdha Vigrahas (Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarshan) must be made of Daru (sacred wood), not metal or stone. Similarly, only the offerings made at the Shreemandira can be termed Mahaprasada, according to traditional norms.

“Any deviation from these sacred traditions may deeply hurt the religious sentiments of countless devotees around the world,” he added.

The king’s statement reinforces the unique spiritual and historical position of Puri as the sole Jagannath Dham, a title that holds profound significance in Hindu tradition.