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Puri: Pictures of the interiors of Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri published in a book has sparked a controversy with the temple administration disapproving such usage of sensitive materials.
According to sources, the book penned by a former Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) researcher Rabi Narayan Das was released in 2008. It has been found out that it contains some sensitive photos of the temple's inner premises and other images that are forbidden for the general public as per the temple protocols. Such photos have irked temple administration which has decided to take up the matter for discussion with the ASI.
Sources informed that there are as many as 43 photos of other deities inside the temple complex published in the book. This apart there is also a close-up of 'Garuda Sthamba' located inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, Jagamohan. The book is priced at Rs 2500.
As per the 1979 Agreement, only ASI can take photographs of the temple's inner precincts for historical reference purposes. However, publishing them in a book is shocking, said experts.
Rituals administrator of the temple Pradeep Dash said there is a restriction on taking photos of secret places inside the temple and those cannot be made a part of research topic however important it may be.
"But since the book has a total of 96 photos a thorough probe should be carried out to ascertain how many of them are very sensitive. The temple administration will discuss with the ASI and ascertain how one of their scholar managed publish them in a book," he said.
