Not Interfering With Religious Rituals, But Ensure No Damage Is Caused to Jyotirlingam of Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Temple, Do Not Misreport This Order : SC [Read Judgment]

Lingam is known as ‘Mrityunjaya Mahadev’, who prevents from destruction, it cannot be permitted to be destructed. Lingam cannot be permitted to be exploited in a manner it is destroyed. If one believes in the concept of real pooja, such Pooja is to be performed by pure materials as purest of thoughts., the bench said.

While refusing to prescribe or restrain the religious practices and Pujas to be performed in Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, the Supreme Court observed that it has to be ensured that no damage is caused to the Jyotirlingam.

A bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice UU Lalit observed that it would be appropriate that a plan is prepared regarding the entire offering materials on the lingam to be manufactured and provided by temple itself as is done in several famous temples in the Southern part of India and other places.

It was considering an appeal against Madhya Pradesh High Court judgment and the SLP was entertained as the court took notice of various reports that the idol of Lord Shiva in the form of Lingam is in danger due to various causes and it has deteriorated as such notice was issued to ensure its preservation.

“By pouring the adulterated Milk, Ghee, Kumkum, Gulal, Abir containing chemicals due to adulteration is improper and cannot be permitted to be part of the ritual. Lingam cannot be permitted to be destroyed by chemical reactions of impure materials or by pouring of the dirty water such acts of offerings cannot be allowed and as are done innocently by the people unaware of ill effect on lingam. Had devotees been aware of all these, adverse effect of their Puja on the Lingam of their God itself of which they are performing Puja for the spiritual or other gains they would not have even dreamt of doing it,” the court said while observing that the temple committee and other stakeholders should rise to the occasion and take positive steps in this direction in reasonable time.

The court also said that it is for the temple committee, with help of scriptures and experts, to decide on these rituals and which material to be used by it and in which quantity for purpose of puja by temple and for how much time, in what manner bhang should be applied and in what rituals. “How its use can be best modulated by the Committee itself, considering past practices, as the ultimate duty of Committee is to make preservation of the Lingam itself for its existence and for that it has to consider and adopt what is the best mode of performing the rituals, what are the materials which should be used and in what quantity but it has to be ensured that the materials are not impure and are without such chemicals which may cause erosion of the lingam itself otherwise the very purpose of Puja would be defeated,” the court said.

The court also suggested the temple committee to make an endeavour along with other stakeholders to prepare/manufacture the offering material in purest of the form and by such time it becomes a reality to make an arrangement in such a manner that only pure and unadulterated materials are offered in pooja on lingam.

Real Pooja is to be performed by pure materials as purest of thoughts

Justice Mishra, in concluding part of his judgment, which elaborately discusses reports and suggestions given by ASI and others, observed: “Puja is to be performed in such a manner which should be befitting to the deity and not to cause erosion itself of lingam for which so much infrastructure exists. Lingam is known as ‘Mrityunjaya Mahadev’, who prevents from destruction, it cannot be permitted to be destructed. Lingam cannot be permitted to be exploited in a manner it is destroyed. If one believes in the concept of real pooja, such Pooja is to be performed by pure materials as purest of thoughts. No spiritual or other gain can come if Puja is performed in a manner which damages the deity itself as that would amount to displeasing the saviour. That would be against the basic tenets of performance of Pooja and of making offerings.”

Do not misreport

The bench also said that there should not be any misreporting of this order. “Any violation on this count shall be viewed seriously and sternly with appropriate consequences, wherever necessary. It is hereby made clear that we have not interfered with religious ceremonies to be performed in the Temple,” the court said.

In an earlier order, the bench had expressed its anguish, as to the way in which the orders were being misrepresented in media and otherwise. “We have not passed any interim direction with regard to the manner in which the religious ceremonies have to be performed in the Temple at Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain. This Court has not passed any order whatsoever that, during the Bhasma Aarti, what rituals can, or what rituals cannot be, performed, and neither itis the job of this Court to interfere in such rituals. This Court has not passed any order in this regard. We are concerned in the petition about the protection of the lingam and how it can be donem” the bench had said in its order.