Kedarnath Temple Controversy: Shri Kedarnath Dham Delhi Trust founder Surendra Rautela has announced a big step after a massive controversy erupted over the name of the under-construction temple in Delhi's Burari. Surendra Rautela, who is supervising the work of the Bhoomi Pujan of the Kedarnath temple being built in Delhi, said that the site is only a temple and not a pilgrimage centre or "dham".
He further said that the name of the 'Delhi Kedarnath temple' will be changed as sentiments are being hurt. "If sentiments are being hurt by naming the temple to be built in Delhi as Kedarnath Temple, then the trust will change the name of the temple," he said. His remarks come a day after spiritual leaders and priests in Kedarnath staged a protest against the construction of the temple in Delhi that is being built on the lines of the historic Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand's Garhwal region. Recently, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the new temple at Hiranki in Burari, Delhi.
"Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is a protector of religion. So, he was invited to the programme of laying the foundation stone of the temple. The CM has nothing to do with the temple trust," Rautela said.
Ayodhya Chief Priest Objects To 'Kedarnath Temple' In Delhi
Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of Ayodhya Ram Mandir, has objected to a temple being built in Delhi on the lines of the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand. He said that the temple should be built different because Kedarnath is unique and will remain so. He said that the Kedarnath temple of Uttarakhand is the abode of the Adishakti and the devotees will not be able to get the results of their prayers in Delhi that they get in Uttarakhand.
Acharya Satyendra Das said that if a temple is built with the same name, it won't have the powers of the Jyotirling within it and devotees will not benefit. Acharya Das said, "Kedarnath is among the 12 major Jyotirlings. The Kedarnath Jyotirling is all-powerful. The powers of the 12 Jyotirlings are unique and extraordinary in themselves. That is why people undertake hard pilgrimages to go and see them. If a temple is built with the same name at any other place, it will not be included in the 12 Jyotirlings. It will be a completely different temple."
He further said that the powers that are in the Jyotirlings, due to which people go to see them after putting in a lot of effort, will not have the benefits in any other temple. Priest Satyendra Das said that if someone builds a temple in his house, then the more the temple is, the more power will be found in it.
He further said, "It is the Adishakti. Our scriptures mention that the Kedarnath temple has the Dwadash (12th) Jyotirling, which is unique and extraordinary. It won't be right to build a temple under the same name because it is mentioned in our scriptures that a Jyotirling temple is established because of its effects [in that vicinity]. This effect is unique, so we should let it remain in the same form. If someone builds another temple, then he should build it in another name."
What Is The Delhi Kedarnath Temple Controversy?
The controversy around the 'Delhi Kedarnath temple' began after a statement by president of Kedarnath Dham Trust in Burari Surendra Rautela. Rautela, who is supervising the work of the Bhoomi Pujan of the Kedarnath temple being built in Delhi, said that those who are elderly and are unable to go to Kedarnath Dham can now have Baba's [Kedarnath] darshan in Delhi.
On July 10, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performed Bhoomi Pujan and laid the foundation stone of the Kedarnath temple being built in Hiranki, Burari, Delhi. On this, Jagadguru Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati criticized the government and said that how can you build a Dham like the one built by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya anywhere else.