Puri: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has addressed concerns raised by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri and Chairman of the Shri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, over the naming of the newly established Jagannath temple in Digha, West Bengal.
In a letter dated May 9, 2025, Govardhana Dasa, Chairman of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission, clarified that ISKCON’s role in the Digha temple is limited to performing ritual worship (seva-puja) and that it had no involvement in naming the temple “Jagannath Dham.”
The letter emphasized that the name was decided by the West Bengal government before the formation of the temple’s managing body, the Jagannath Dham Trust, Digha. Among the 27 trustees of the Trust, only one represents ISKCON, with the rest comprising members from various spiritual backgrounds and government nominees.
ISKCON also pointed out the role of Ramakrushna Dasmahapatra (also known as Rajesh Daitapati), Secretary of the Daitapati Nijoga of Puri, who is a trustee of the Digha Trust. Dasmahapatra was responsible for carving the wooden deities in Puri and conducting the consecration (prana-pratistha) ceremony in Digha. Notably, the letter mentions his claim that the Chief Minister of West Bengal is his disciple, suggesting that the Gajapati Maharaja might consider consulting him for further clarity on the naming issue.
While expressing deep reverence for the Gajapati Maharaja and his leadership in safeguarding the sacred traditions of Lord Jagannath, ISKCON reiterated its devotion to the deity and urged that any concerns regarding the temple’s name be formally raised with the West Bengal government.
