Temple purified in Bihar’s Gaya after Muslim Minister entered into it with CM Nitish Kumar
The Hindu
The temple committee also demanded Minister Mohd. Israil Mansuri’s removal from Bihar Cabinet for entering into garbh-grih (sanctum sanctorum) of the famous Vishnupad temple along with CM Nitish Kumar
Purification prayer of the famous Vishnupad temple of Gaya in Bihar was done with all prayers and rituals on August 24 after Minister from the minority community entered into its sanctum sanctorum along with chief minister Nitish Kumar on August 22 to offer prayer.
The temple committee washed the temple premises and also demanded removal of the Minister from Mr. Kumar’s Cabinet. The State BJP leaders, earlier, had demanded ‘public apology’ from the Chief Minister for taking a non-Hindu inside the temple garbh-grih (sanctum sanctorum).
Entry of non-Hindus is strictly prohibited inside the world famous Vishnupad temple where people visit for prayer after offering pind dan of their ancestors on the bank of river Falgu. The code is written in bold fonts on the wall of the temple.
“There was lot of resentment among panda samaj (priest community) here after visit of a Minister from non-Hindu community along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The purification of the temple has been done with all rituals and prayers, while washing of the premises with water”, said chairman of the temple management committee Shambhulal Vitthal. He also demanded dismissal of the Minister from his post.
As many as 20-21 pandas (priests) were present and participated in the purification prayer, he added.
Earlier on August 22, Bihar’s Information and Technology Minister Mohd. Israil Mansuri had entered into sanctum sanctorum of famous Vishnupad temple along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was on a visit to Gaya to see preparation of annual pitrapaksha mela (fair for ancestral well-being).
The Minister who was recently made as party’s (JD-U) in-charge of the district, accompanied Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and offered prayer.
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