The priests had pointed out the crack in the idol & devotees were informed: Temple Committee
Vallabh Kamat President of Navdurga Temple Committee at Marcaim the Mahajans and Managing Committee said the priests brought the crack to the notice of Temple Committee few decades ago. So the temple committee took Kaulprasad approval of deity in 2013 with view to replace the old idol with new and accordingly all Mahajans, Kulavees, villagers devotees were informed about installation of new idol in the first week of March 2016 but this could not take place as some villagers has raised objection claiming right over idol and matter is District Court.
“Those villagers are unnecessarily obstructing the Temple Committee and have no right. The temple is governed by the Mahajan Act and committee has all rights to manage the affairs of temple,” Kamat said speaking to Herald.
Stating that the idol of Goddess Navadurga installed in the Marcaim temple in Ponda taluka has deteriorated over the years and now needs to be replaced on priority, the members of the temple committee said that the committee is ready to review this decision, in consultation with seven Wadekars, who are the natives in the Marcaim village worshipping the Goddess.
The members of the temple committee also maintained that all Mahajans or devotees linked to the families of the founder members of the temple have unanimously agreed for replacement of the idol, since cracks have developed in the same. It may be recalled that locals from Marcaim village are opposing replacement of the particular idol.
Coming out with the information that during the 450-year history of the Navadurga temple, three idols have been changed, and the present idol in a deteriorated condition forms the fourth in the line, president of the Navadurga temple committee Vallabh Kamat said that initial cracks were observed in the present idol way back in 1983-84, but the Goddess gave her consent by way of ‘Kaul Prasad’ – a powerful form of divination using flower petals/ leaves from a sacred tree in the temple premises over the image of Goddess to interpret intimations from the divine – for replacement of the same only in 2013.
“The general body of the temple committee gave a clearance for carrying out the exercise of ‘Kaul Prasad’ on December 22, 2013, in the presence of the representatives of the Swami of Partagali Mutt, after issuing related notice through local newspapers,” Kamat added, pointing out that the ‘Kaul Prasad’ conducted by temple priest Anand Ghaisas was affirmative, which was intimated to the seven Wadekars, who, in turn, accepted the decision.
“The Mahajans as well as the seven Wadekars are not opposing the replacement of the idol, but people who are not concerned with the affairs of the temple have been used to stop the installation of the new idol,” Kamat stated, informing that a seven-year old, sub-judice issue as regards differences existing between the temple committee and the temple priests is at the root of the ‘conspiracy.’
It’s a 800 year old idol, the village worships it: Purohits
The Ghaisas family, the purohits of the temple,have refuted allegations leveled by the temple managing committee that they are the ones provoking villagers against the replacement of the idol of deity Navdurga because the temple committee has terminated their services as temple priests.
Anand Ghaisas said that the district court has asked them to continue with their religious services in the temple. The temple committee has challenged the district court’s decision before the high court and the matter is sub-judice.
Adding that the family is in possession of some historic Comunidade documents from the year 1875 that prove the temple was owned by public and villagers were members of the temple, he said they are opposed to the replacement of the idol of the Marcaim ‘gram devata’ (village deity), goddess Navdurga. The
temple committee has declared its plan to replace the existing pre-historic idol with a new one on March 3.
“The entire village worships the idol regularly. It is also revered as the ‘gram devata’ (village deity) of the Marcaim village. The idol of the deity installed in the village temple is about 800 years old and the Pune’s Deccan College recognized by the Archaeological Survey of India has certified this,” Ghaisas said.
