Dispute over silk thread leaves 1,100-year-old Lingaraj Temple in Odisha with a hungry Lord Shiva
Lingaraj Temple, dating back to the 11th century, has become the center of unrest since Monday evening. As per a TOI report, a clash between two factions of priests over a crucial annual ritual, the offering of sacred threads known as 'paitalagi,' has led to a regrettable suspension of all services.
This incident has sparked frustration among devotees and authorities alike.
The Lingaraj temple administration finds itself in a challenging position, as the conflicting priest groups are beyond their jurisdiction. The dispute revolves around the sequence of offering the sacred threads.
The Puja Panda Nijog group intends to present three paitas (Silk thread) to Lord Shiva, followed by the Badu Nijog group presenting the remaining 24 threads. However, the Badu Nijog faction insists on leading the ritual, resulting in the unfortunate suspension of the ceremonies.
Rajkishore Mohapatra, an overseeing supervisor and priest of the temple, expressed his disappointment, stating, «It is a sad day when our own differences overshadow the sacred rituals and practices of our deities.
Our disagreements should never have reached this point, as it's our duty to ensure the continuity of these rituals that have been upheld for generations.»
Mohapatra further highlighted the need for the implementation of the Lingaraj Temple Act, emphasizing that such disruptions could have been avoided if the act were in place. He lamented, «If the temple Act would have been there, then such disruptions to rituals could not have happened.»
Sources indicate that this dispute over the rituals has been ongoing since 2019, ultimately culminating in a court case after both groups of priests vied for the honor of leading the ceremonies.
