Puja of Kedarnath Shiva begins at Ukhimath temple

The worshipping of the idols of Lord Shiva in Kedarnath temple, which is partly submerged under slush following the rain and flood fury, started at Omkareshwar Temple in Rudraprayag district on Monday. Prithviraj Singh reports.

The worshipping of the idols of Lord Shiva in Kedarnath temple, which is partly submerged under slush following the rain and flood fury, started at Omkareshwar Temple in neighboring Rudraprayag district on Monday amid a dispute over the role of Badrinath Shankaracharya in deciding on the restoration of puja.

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The idols were shifted ahead of the schedule this year to Rudraprayag temple in the wake of the tragedy. Normally, they are taken there for six months at the beginning of winters in the belief that Lord Shiva changes his abode during that period.

“The puja of Lord Shiva will continue at Omkareshwar temple till the Kedarnath temple is purified,” said chief priest of Kedarnath shirne Bhimashankar Ling Shivacharya.

Reacting to Uttarakhand government’s statement that renovation of the Kedarnath temple and restoration of puja will be decided after consultations with the Shankaracharya, Shivacharya said the former had no role in the functioning of the shrine committee.

Talking exclusively to Hindustan Times, he said, “We are a separate cult, while Shankaracharya follows a different tradition. We the Rawals of Karnataka follow different rituals and conventions. No decision on religious functioning of Kedarnath shrine can be taken by the state or central governments without consulting us."

“Even Kedarnath temple committee cannot interfere in the religious traditions of Jagad Guru Rawal cult," he said, adding he will meet chief minister Vijay Bahuguna and inform him about the Rawal precepts.