Shivling installed amid protest in Kedarnath

Dehradun, Sep 28 (UNI) Amid strong protest from Bharatiya Janata Party activists, a 3.5 ton 'Shivling' made of quartzite was established at the Samadhi Sthal of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath Temple today.

A huge statue of Adi Shankaracharya made of marble was also installed.

Gujarat Governor Naval Kishore Sharma dedicated both the Shivling and Adi Shankaracharya statue to the public.

Chairman of Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, Anushuiya Prasad Maikhuri told UNI over phone that the quartzite 'Shivling' costing Rs 3 crore and the largest in the country, was installed by Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand of Sharda Dwarika Pith as a part of restoration work of the Temple on BKTC's request.

Speaking about the protest from BJP activists, Mr Maikhuri said it would have no bearing on the people's faith towards Kedarnath.

Terming it a double standard on BJP's part, he said on the one hand BJP talks of temples and Hindutva, on the other hand they were taking recourse to such protest.

It may be recalled that Congress supported Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand of Dwarikapeeth and BJP supported Shankaracharya Swami Madhavashram of Badrikashram had locked horns on the genuineness of the 'Samadhi sthal' of Adi Shankaracharya at Temple premises since a long time . Swami Swaroopanand asserted that samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya was situated in the Kedarnath Temple Altar, but on the other hand according to Swami Madhavashram, Adiguru Shankaracharya had returned to Kailash Parvat after delivering his religious discourse. Mr Maikhuri claimed that first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, too has, in his book ''Discovery of India'' mentioned about the Samadhi Sthal in the temple.

Meanwhile, Kapat (Door) of Kedarnath Temple will be closed on October 24 for Winter season.

The decision on this effect was taken in a meeting of Mandir Pujaris and Pandits today. The closure of the Kapat would be formally announced in a meeting scheduled to be held in Badrinath on October 2nd. Traditionally it is closed after Deepavali on the day of 'Bhaiyyaduj', Mr Maikhuri said.

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