Bhubaneswar, Oct 26: Stalemate in the Shree Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar continues so far due to dispute between the Nijogs over landed property of the temple. As a consequence, Lord Lingaraj has been languishing without food for over 24 hours.
The emergency meeting convened by the Shree Lingaraj Temple Authorities and the Endowment Commissioner reportedly failed, which was called to resolve the dispute through amicable discussion. The rituals of Lord Lingaraj reportedly remained pending on Wednesday for a dispute among the Nijogs over land rights.
As there was no amicable settlement on the issue, Lord Lingarj and the side deities were left without any worship and bhogs. The other rituals of the deities were suspended after the Mangal Alati on Thursday.
Disruptions in daily rituals in Shee Lingaraj Temple are the fallout of a dispute over a piece of unsettled land belonging to Lord Lingaraj.
Sources said that a few pieces of land belonging to the Lord Lingaraj which were enjoyed by the Pujapanda Nijog and Badu Nijog for years, were ordered for reversal in pursuance of a court order. Meanwhile, the Badu Nijog constructed a market complex here on the basis of the order. However, the two Nijogs challenged it in the court and urged the Endowment Commissioner to return back the said landed properties to them.
After an altercation over the pending land issue on Thursday , the Puja Panda Nijog and the Brahmin Nijog stopped performing the puja and offering bhogs to the deities, source added.
Comments of either the endowment officials or the office bearers of the Nijogs in this connection are yet to be received.
