Bhubaneswar: A public interest litigation has been filed in the Odisha High Court challenging the right of the Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Nichilanandanda Saraswati’s authority to climb the chariots during Rath Yatra, Puri. The PIL, filed in the HC on Wednesday by Subrat Dash and Amit Mishra of Cuttack, stated that there is no documentary proof in Shree Mandir Record of Rights about Shankaracharya climbing the chariots during Rath Yatra.
The petitioners contended that the Shankaracharya had no role either in the pujas or in the rituals atop chariots.
“The sevayats (servitors) have specified definite role and responsibilities during the Rath Yatra and have the right to climb the chariots,” the petitioners said.
“Similarly, the Gajapati Maharaja has the duty of chhera panhanra (sweeping of chariots before rolling) and is thus required to climb the chariot. But nowhere in the record of rights has it been mentioned that the Shankarcharya can also climb the chariots,” the petitioners argued.
