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Hindu organisations demand criminal case against responsible Archaeology Department officers
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Water leakage found in the temple and several small idols damaged during conservation work
Kolhapur, Maharashtra – A joint meeting of the district administration, temple administration, Archaeology Department, public representatives and various pro-Hindu organisations was held at the District Collector’s office regarding the ongoing works under the Shri Mahalakshmi (Ambabai) Temple Development Plan. At the meeting, all Hindu organisations expressed strong displeasure over the work of the Archaeology Department and demanded that a criminal case be registered against Assistant Director Vilas Vahane and all other responsible officers of the department.
During the meeting, instead of giving satisfactory answers, Vilas Vahane and the officers of the private agency appointed for the work adopted an evasive attitude.
District Collector and Chairman of the West Maharashtra Devasthan Management Committee, Dr Vijay Rathod, after listening to all sides, stated that administrative mistakes would not be allowed to recur. Necessary action would be taken after examining the work carried out so far, and an appropriate decision would be taken.
Shiv Sena MLA Rajesh Kshirsagar said that the sentiments of the Hindu organisations were justified and that the temple work must be carried out in a completely proper manner. The damage caused to the temple should be investigated, and experts should be appointed wherever required. He described the water leakage in the temple as serious negligence and warned that such incidents would not be tolerated in future.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Hindu Ekta Andolan, Shiv Sena, Hindu Mahasabha, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Mandir Mahasangh, priests of the Shri Mahalakshmi Temple, office-bearers of the Devasthan, and various social and pro-Hindu organisations.
Major issues raised by Hindu organisations
- During the cleaning of the temple, sandblasting technique was used, as a result of which the ears, noses, eyes and other limbs of several small idols were broken, and many idols were completely worn away.
- Last month the golden kalash of the temple was installed in haste without any religious ritual and without the presence of the Shankaracharya or other religious acharyas.
- The ancient fountain (karanja) in the temple premises was demolished overnight, but the temple committee could not provide satisfactory information about it.
- During the cleaning of stones in the temple premises, a breaker machine was used without permission, and several improper acts such as labourers staying in the Matriling Temple came to light.
- During conservation, instead of keeping the temple idols safely, they were stuffed into sacks.
- Work on the Garuda Mandap has remained incomplete for the past three years, and its deadline is repeatedly being extended.
Strong resentment against Vilas Vahane
After the meeting ended, Assistant Director of the Archaeology Department, Vilas Vahane, faced strong opposition from Hindu organisations.
Niranjan Shinde, founder of ‘Maharaja Pratishthan’, and Yogesh Kerkar of ‘Maratha Tituka Melavava’ alleged that during his tenure temples and forts had suffered heavy damage. They said that conservation work at several temples, including Vishalgad, had been affected, and that Vilas Vahane was also responsible for the present condition of the Shri Mahalakshmi Temple. They warned that if a case was not registered against him, the agitation would be intensified.
Hindu organisations also demanded that this work be immediately withdrawn from senior officer of the Archaeology Department, Tejas Garge, and Assistant Director Vilas Vahane. They alleged that Vilas Vahane was never available to provide information and that he alone was responsible for all the errors of the department.
Serious negligence in the conservation of the idol of Mahalakshmi Devi – Advocate Prasanna Malekar
Idol expert Advocate Prasanna Malekar said that religious traditions were being disregarded in the conservation work of the Devi’s idol. He stated that the process related to pran-pratishtha was being followed for applying vajralep on the idol twice a year, whereas if the condition of the idol was good, why was this necessary? He also alleged that this process had been carried out several times even on Amavasya days, and that the golden kalash had been installed without an auspicious muhurat and without religious ritual. He also demanded an independent review of the ongoing conservation works at Shri Jyotiba Devasthan.
Manikarnika Kund should be opened soon for devotees – Shivanand Swami, HJS
Shivanand Swami of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti said that it was improper to close the extremely ancient and sacred Manikarnika Kund and construct a toilet over it. He stated that the work of reopening the kund had been pending for many years and should be completed soon so that it could be opened for devotees.
