Rs. 51,000/- to be charged for performing ‘Mahapuja’ of Shri Vitthal, Pandharpur !

Magha Krushnapaksha 3, Kaliyug Varsh 5116

Decision taken by Shri. Vitthal-Rukmini Mandir Samiti, Pandharpur

• Hindus need to realize the ill-effects of takeover of temples by Govt and insist that the management of temples should be handed over to devotees !

Pandharpur (Maharashtra) : Archaeology Department had advised Shri. Vitthal-Rukmini Mandir Samiti 7 years ago, to stop ‘Mahapuja’ in the temple claiming that ‘Panchamrut snaan’ during ‘mahapuja’ caused erosion of the idol of Shri Vitthal.

The Mandir Samiti therefore, took a decision to install an idol of Shri. Vitthal made of ‘Pancha-dhatu (5-metals)’ for the purpose of ‘mahapuja’. On 30th January, Annasaheb Dange, the President of Shri. Vitthal-Rukmini Mandir Samiti informed that the Samiti had taken a decision to allow a devotee to perform ‘mahapuja’ provided he gives Rs. 51,000/- as donation.

The decision will be implemented from 19th February. (Taking such large donation for ‘mahapuja’ of Shri. Vitthal is commercializing this ritual. When Badave and Utpats used to perform such ‘puja’, it used to cost Rs. 500 to Rs.2100/-. Now ordinary devotee will not be able to afford such ‘puja’ and can feel bad about it. It shows the effects of ‘governmentalization’ of temples. – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)

Warakaris have raised objection; questioning as to for whose benefit, the practice of ‘mahapuja’ is being re-started. A meeting of Mandir Samiti was held at Saint Tukaram Bhavan under the chairmanship of Dange.

The following decisions were taken in this meeting.

1. One couple from the queue of devotees will be given honour of performing ‘puja’ every day.

2. From the day of ‘Gudhi Padva’, ‘puja’ of Shri. Vitthal-Rukmini would be performed by applying sandalwood paste and willing devotees can apply for such ‘puja’ through advertisement published in newspaper.

3. During Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi festivals, temple remains open for all 24 hours so as to facilitate devotees to have ‘darshan’; but during the fairs held in ‘Magh’ and ‘Chaitra’ fairs the temple is closed in the night; so a proposal may be put up to keep the temple open for 24 hours during Magh and Chaitra months also.

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat

Notice : The source URLs cited in the news/article might be only valid on the date the news/article was published. Most of them may become invalid from a day to a few months later. When a URL fails to work, you may go to the top level of the sources website and search for the news/article.

Disclaimer : The news/article published are collected from various sources and responsibility of news/article lies solely on the source itself. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) or its website is not in anyway connected nor it is responsible for the news/article content presented here. ​Opinions expressed in this article are the authors personal opinions. Information, facts or opinions shared by the Author do not reflect the views of HJS and HJS is not responsible or liable for the same. The Author is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. ​

JOIN