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Journalism of Courage
BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 6: The Puri Shankaracharya’s proposal to build separate Swastik temples of Lord Ganesha for the reconverts to Hinduism has led to a vertical rift in the community with many expressing the fear that this would create a new class in Hindu society and harm the campaign to stop conversions. But the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has come out strongly in support of the seer’s suggestion.
Sarat Mohapatra, a trustee of Orissa’s ancient Lingaraj Temple and President of the Anant Basudeb Brahman Niyog, who is considered an expert on the Vedas and Hindu philosophy, is quite vocal in his opposition to the concept of Swastik temples mooted by the Shankaracharya, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati. "This would only segregate the reconverted Hindus from the mainstream and create a new class structure. The existing temples are enough to cater to the needs of the devotees and there should be no hesitation in allowing the entry of the reconverts to all the temples. Moreover, there is no logic in going for new temples when many existing temples all over the country are in a state of neglect," he says.
The VHP, however, feels that construction of more temples will in no way hamper Hindu religious practices. VHP’s Orissa joint secretary Sarat Sarangi says the confusion over allowing the reconverted Hindus to enter the existing temples stems from concern for ensuring the "purity" of the body and mind of Hindu devotees. "Creation of Swastik temples for the benefit of the reconverts cannot be seen as inimical to the Hindu order," he insists.
Former Orissa chief minister and state Congress president J B Patnaik makes a clear distinction between a reconvert who is a born Hindu and a person who embraces Hinduism after being born into a different religion. "The Swastik temple concept for the reconverts may create a new class system in society, harming the essential social and cultural fabric of Orissa. All those who want to return to the fold of Hinduism should be accepted without reservations. This, especially in the case of those reconverts who are born Hindus. I can understand some conditions being imposed on others, say like the Muslims, who accept Hinduism after being born in another faith," he says.
Orissa BJP president Manmohan Samal is more cautious. "I do not find anything amiss in the prevailing confusion over the status and privileges of the reconverts," he says. "This is a process (that has to run its course) and clarity will dawn with the passage of time."
Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University of Culture Prof Bimalendu Mohanty sounds a note of caution. "Hundreds of people were converted to other religions with a hope of getting a better economic status. Many are now feeling betrayed and wish to return to their original religion. In such a scenario, the treatment meted out to the 72 reconverts (brought back to the fold by the Puri Shankaracharya in Manoharpur) will clearly set the tone for further reconversions. Decisions in such cases cannot first wait for the reconversions to occur," he stresses.
Prof Mohanty feels Swastik temples will make a mockery of the Hindu religion and the existing temples should throw open their doors to the converts, if cohesion and unity was to be achieved in Hindu society.
The Puri Jagannath Temple is as of now steering clear of the debate, maintaining that it would abide by any decision taken by the highest religious bodies of Hindu religion. "We are ready to allow anybody into the temple as long as his entry has the sanction of the religious heads," says assistant administrator Padmanabh Panda.
