Sanatan Prabhat > Location > Asia > India > Maharashtra > Archaeological Survey of India prohibits Bharat Mata worship at Devagiri Fort in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar !

Archaeological Survey of India prohibits Bharat Mata worship at Devagiri Fort in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar !

Statue of Mother India at Devagiri Fort

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar – The fort of Devagiri here is renowned in the world. Guru Janardanaswamy of ShantiBrahm Sant Eknath Maharaj lived in this fort and his tomb resides in the fort too. The idol of Bharat Mata on this fort is worshiped regularly. Whereas Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) issues unjustified ban on Worship of Bharat Mata at Devagiri’s Fort. The department has issued a leaflet regarding this matter, causing anger among locals.

Fort of Devagiri

The letter stated that Raju Kashinath Rao Kanjune, the regular priest for worship at the site, should stop performing pujas and should not be permitted to conduct them in the future. NanasahebPeshwa erected a Sankat Vinayak temple on this fort, initiating rituals at both the temple and the Samadhi of Janardanaswamy. In 1948, following the integration of Hyderabad into India, a statue of Bharat Mata was installed at Devagiri fort as a symbol of social cohesion. The idols’ rituals being done by Pokhare Guruji, while management of the temple overseen by the Kanjune family.

Ban on worship due to complaints of uncleanliness – Dr Shiv Kumar Bhagat, Superintendent, Archaeological Survey of India

If so, in cases of uncleanliness within a government departments, closure and dismissal of all personnel may be considered necessary. – Editor

This decision was taken after some tourists complained of unsanitary conditions in the Bharat Mata Mandir area. Devagiri Fort falls under the ‘Non-Living Monument’ category. Therefore, any kind of worship is prohibited there. We have the responsibility of cleaning the temple and we have staff for that. (The decision to cease worship due to unsanitary conditions in the temple area is an attack on faith. Hindus should unite and voice their opposition through legitimate means against this action. – Editor)

Will the same criteria be applied to Aurangze’s grave ? – Ambadas Danve, Legislative Council, Leader of Opposition

How can this fort be classified as a ‘non-living monument’ when its temples have been a site of worship for centuries, well before independence ? Will the ASI and Ministry of Culture impose restrictions on festivals like Dindi and Ganesha Puja as well ? If Hindu temple worship is being banned, will similar criteria apply to places like Aurangzeb’s tomb ?”

Editorial Perspectives

  • The same Archaeological Survey of India is banning ‘Mother India’ worship while overlooking Islamic encroachments on Historic Forts.
  • Is it the ASI belonging to India or Pakistan that it has imposed such a ban ?

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