Priests unhappy with time limit at Trimbak temple

NASHIK: The restrictions imposed by the Trimbak Devasthan Trust on the entry of devotees in the sanctum sanctorum of the Trimbakeshwar temple have neither not gone down well with the priests nor the visitors.
The Trimbak Devasthan Trust, in a new rule that came into effect from May 1, has limited the devotees’ entry to the sanctum sanctorum of Trimbakeshwar temple after it received instructions from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).The move was made to prevent damage caused to the idol by pouring of chemical-based prayer material such as panchamrut, gandh and akshada over it.
Since May 1, the visitors’ entry to the sanctum santorum temple has been limited from 6 am to 7pm.
Sanket Chandwadkar, one of the priests at the temple, said the decision has hurt the religious sentiments of the devotees visiting the temple. “We had asked the trust to allow the devotees into the sanctum sanctorum for two hours each in the morning and in the afternoon, but it has not been allowed,” Chandwadkar said.
He further said that the tradition of people entering the sanctum sanctorum, which had been going on for years together, has suddenly been put to an end.
Rudrasharma Lohagaonkar, another priest, said the devotees who want to enter the sanctum sanctorum are mainly those wishing to perform the ‘abhishek’. “Earlier, restrictions were put on carrying flowers and coconut inside the temple for security issues and now with devotees not being allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum — people’s religious sentiments have been hurt,” he said.
Lohagaonkar said there has not been any prior intimation, neither has there been any signage placed to inform people about the change. To prevent damage to the idol, the trust should instead cover it with a silver foil, he added.
Around 5,000 people visit Trimbakeshwar temple, one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country, of which, about 100 devotees perform the pooja, requiring them to enter the sanctum sanctorum.
Prem Jha, an advocate, who had travelled from Mumbai to take darshan, said that if a devotee travelling long distances to visit the temple cannot enter the sanctum sanctorum, he will not be satisfied with the visit. Some devotees, on the other hand, have appreciated the move. For instance, Pooja Shah, a devotee, said that if measures are required to be taken for conservation of heritage structures, they should be taken. “Devotees have to accept changes which are necessary to safeguard national assets,” she said.
A senior official from the trust said they would continue with the decision as it is of national interest and for the convenience of all the devotees visiting the temple. The trust would set up flexes and sign boards in coming week to inform the devotees of the changed timings.