Devotees can’t rub Shivalingam at Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple, orders SC

Satya Prakash
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 1

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday restrained devotees from rubbing the Shivalingam at Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple in order to prevent its further erosion.

“Poojaries, Janeupati, Khutpati, Purohits, and their authorised representatives (have) to strictly ensure that no visitor or devotee rubs the Shivalingam at any cost. If it is done by any devotee, accompanying Poojari or Purohit shall be responsible for not stopping the rubbing,” a Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra ordered.

“No rubbing of Shivalingam to be done by anyone except during traditional Puja and Archana performed on behalf of the temple,” said the Bench which issued a series of directions to management committee of the temple for preservation of the Shivalingam and better upkeep of the temple.

“The rubbing of curd, ghee or honey on the Shivalingam by the devotees is also a cause of erosion.  It would be appropriate that only pouring of a limited   quantity of pure milk is allowed by the committee. Whereas in the traditional puja to be done on behalf of the temple, all pure materials can be used,” it said.

“The entire proceedings of puja and archana in garbh griha to be video recorded 24 hours and be preserved at least for six months,” it said, adding if any violation is found by any poojari, purohit, the temple committee can take suitable action against that poojari or purohit.

It said, as agreed by the temple committee, no Panchamrita to be poured on Shivalingam by any devotee.

It may be used only during traditional puja and archana of the Shivalingam.

The top court said it was for the temple committee to provide pure milk from its resources to the devotees   for offering and ensuring that no impure or adulterated milk was offered to Shivalingam. It asked the poojari/ purohit concerned to ensure compliance.

The top court directed the temple committee to ensure that the pH value of Bhasma during the Bhasma Aarti was improved and Shivalingam was preserved from further deterioration and to implement the best methodology to prevent further damage to the Lingam.

It asked the temple committee to ensure that weight of Mund Mala and Serpakarnahas was further reduced to preserve the Shivalingam from mechanical abrasion and find out a way and consider if it was necessary to use metal Mund Mala on the Shivalingam, or there can be a way out to use Mund Mala and Serpakarnahas   without   touching   the   Shivalingam.

“Possibility of further reducing weight may also be   found out to prevent mechanical abrasion,” it said.

The Bench – which also included Justice BR Gavai and Justice Krishna Murari—directed the expert committee comprising experts from Archaeological Survey of India and Geological Survey of India already appointed by it to visit the temple and submit a report by 15 December 2020, as to the steps to be taken to preserve Shivalingam and temple structure, including Chandranageshwar Temple.

It sought a compliance report by second week of January 2021.