Kedarnath Temple, a sacred place of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, is back in the news. This time, the controversy is about a replica of this ancient temple being built in Delhi. While the temple is under construction in the national capital, there is opposition in Uttarakhand. Let’s take a detailed look at the different aspects of this issue.
Construction of the Kedarnath Temple Replica
In Delhi’s Hiranki, Burari, a replica of the Kedarnath Temple is being built on three acres of land by the Shri Kedarnath Dham Trust, Burari. According to the trust, this construction is being done because the original Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand remains closed for six months each year due to harsh weather. The trust claims that the replica will be made using the same architecture and materials as the original.
The trust’s founder-chairman, Surinder Rautela, owns the land and will cover the construction cost of about 12 crores rupees. Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony on July 10. According to the trust’s administrative head, Jitendra Sulara, this construction will be completed by the end of 2026.
The original Kedarnath Temple is located in the high Himalayas of Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is one of the four holy Hindu Dhams, which include Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
Wave of Opposition
The saints and priests of Kedarnath, along with many religious leaders and citizens of Uttarakhand, are strongly opposing this project. They held a three-day protest from July 12 to 15, chanting slogans against the state government. Swami Darshan Bharti, president of the Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan, called it a conspiracy and urged followers of Sanatan Dharma to stop this project.
Swami Darshan Bharti said, “It is a sin to misuse the name of Baba Kedar. I appeal to all Sanatanis to wake up and thwart this conspiracy.”
Political Controversy
The state’s opposition party, Congress, accused Chief Minister Dhami and the ruling BJP of undermining the sanctity of the ancient temple. Ajendra Ajay, chairman of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), said, “The state government has no connection with the temple construction in Delhi. It is being done by an organization called Kedarnath Trust. The state government has not provided any financial assistance for its construction. The Chief Minister attended the foundation stone ceremony on a religious invitation.”
However, the BKTC has warned of legal action against the trust in Delhi. Ajay said, “We have received complaints about individuals and organizations forming trusts in the name of Kedarnath and Badrinath temples and raising funds to build temples, hospitals, ashrams, etc. Some are raising money using apps under the guise of online prayers. We will take all legal action.”
Religious Objections
The concerns of the opponents are multifaceted. Priests believe that making a replica of the sacred Jyotirlinga violates religious traditions. They say that original temples hold a unique place in Hindu faith, and creating replicas goes against established traditions. Priests argue that bringing a stone from Kedarnath Dham to Delhi disrupts the sacred tradition associated with the temple. They have declared that Kedarnath Dham is one and will always be, and it cannot be replaced by any other temple.
Umesh Posti, associated with the Kedarnath Priests’ Union, told PTI, “Building a temple in the name of Kedarnath Dham in Delhi is a disrespect to the sanctity of the holy Himalayan temple, which Hindus have worshipped for generations.”
Jyotishpeeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand accused a gold scandal in Kedarnath and said the same could happen in Delhi. He told ANI, “There can be no symbolic form of Kedarnath. The Shiva Purana describes the 12 Jyotirlingas with their names and locations. When Kedarnath’s address is in the Himalayas, how can it be in Delhi? There are political reasons behind this. Political people are entering our religious places. 228 kilograms of gold is missing from Kedarnath. The investigation has not started yet. Now they say they will build Kedarnath in Delhi; this cannot happen.”
Chief priest of Ayodhya Ram Temple, Acharya Satyendra Das, told PTI, “Kedarnath Ji is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is in Uttarakhand and has supreme power. The powers of the 12 Jyotirlingas cannot be compared, so people go there to seek blessings.”
Adverse Reactions
In response to these objections, Sulara argued, “There are many Vaishno Devi temples across India. There is a Badrinath temple in Mumbai. There is also a Kedarnath temple in Indore. Why can’t we build one here?” He added, “Building a temple is not against Sanatan Dharma. But it cannot be compared to the original Kedarnath temple as we do not have the Jyotirlinga. It is just another Shiva temple.”
Rautela also commented on the controversy, “This is not something new, and we do not understand this controversy,” while considering removing the word “Dham” to avoid confusion.
Conclusion
The construction of the Kedarnath Temple replica has become a complex and sensitive issue. Such projects should be undertaken carefully and with respect for religious and cultural traditions, considering the community’s feelings. The current controversy touches deep pillars of religious beliefs, traditions, and faith, which need to be handled with a balanced approach and sensitivity.
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