BHUBANESWAR/PURI: In yet another twist to Brahma Parivartan controversy, suspended Daitapati Kashinath Dasmahapatra, who has been giving confusing statements about the number of servitors who witnessed the secret ritual, on Sunday said a mythological text, ‘Indra Neelamani Purana’, prescribes the rituals and the role of daitas and pati mahapatras.
Though Kashinath claimed that the scripture is with Jagannath Swain Mahapatra, the Badagrahi of Lord Jagannath, he said the holy scripture can neither be shown to others nor the content of the scripture is a matter of public discussion.
The senior Daitapati said Indra Neelamani Purana has specific guidelines on Brahma Sparsha (touch), Brahma Darshan, Bigraha Nirmana (carving of idols), Brahma Randhra (cavity in belly of the idols where the Brahma is kept), Brahma Kabati (lid used for sealing the cavity), Brahma Sansthapana (infusion of Brahma into the idols) and Patali (burial) of the old idols.
Admitting that Brahma Parivartan is done only by four Badagrahis, Kashinath said senior Daitapatis were allowed to touch and offer prayer to the Brahma as per the convention.
Asked if the record of rights (RoR) guiding the temple rituals has such provision, he said the RoR is silent on it.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Narsingh Mishra on Sunday reiterated his party’s demand for judicial probe into the Nabakalebara fiasco by a sitting judge of the Orissa High Court and resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
“Only a judicial inquiry can reveal the truth about the circumstances which delayed the Brahma Parivartan and the persons responsible for it,” Mishra said at a media conference in Puri.
The Chief Minister used to order judicial probes at the drop of a hat. However, his silence on the issue is making people suspicious about the role of BJD Government in the entire episode, Mishra said.
Allegation of theft of Brahma is a very serious issue. The delay and gross mismanagement during the secret rituals have hurt religious sentiments of millions of devotees.
The Government has miserably failed to carry out this important ritual of the deities and the Chief Minister has no moral right to continue in the office, Mishra said.
Mishra along with several Congress leaders discussed the issue with district Collector Arabind Agarwal and SP Asish Kumar Singh and studied the RoR to ascertain the exact duties of the Daitapati during Brahma Parivartan ritual. The leaders also met Binayak Dasmahapatra, the Biswabasu Daitapati in this regard.
Mishra was accompanied by former ministers Kishore Patel, Jagannath Patnaik, former MP Ananta Sethi, party MLAs Prakash Behera and Anshuman Mohanty.