Pandharpur (District Solapur, Maharashtra) : To stop the erosion of the idol of Shri Rukmini Mata at Pandharpur, a chemical coating has been planned in the name of Vajralepa. Since the temple and all the rituals in it are related to Dharma, every ritual there should be as per the Dharmashastra. Hence what should be done if the idol has worn out due to age should also be determined by the Dharmashastras. The wear and tear on the idol of Shri Rukmini Mata have not stopped even after repeated chemical coatings. So what is going to be achieved by doing the same process again?
Therefore, all measures in this issue should be as stated in Dharmashastra and under the guidance of Dharmik experts, and the idol should not be given another chemical coating. This demand was put forth in a press release by Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh state organizer of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Shri. Sunil Ghanwat.
The press release further states that,
1. Earlier, the vajralepan on the idol of Shri Mahalakshmi Devi of Kolhapur was ineffective. Within a year, the chemical began to fade, leaving behind white spots. The idol is in a state of disrepair, and in the process, the image of a cobra on the idol’s head has disappeared. Who will guarantee that this will not happen with the idol of Rukmini mata? Therefore, going by previous experiences, it is imperative that the devotees of Vitthal be told who exactly will be responsible for this vajralepan and who will be responsible if something untoward happens in the process.
2. The use of various chemicals in the chemical coating process reduces the sattvik nature of the idol. There is a basic principle in spirituality that ‘Word, touch, form, taste, smell and the energy associated with it coexist’. Thus the form of Shri Rukmini Mata also projects the energy. During the vajralepan process, chemicals are applied to the idol. As a result, the original form of the idol is tampered with. When the form of the idol changes, the amount of Chaitanya (Divine Consciousness) emitted from the idol decreases. As a result, devotees will be deprived of the spiritual benefits from worshipping the idol. Depriving devotees of the Deity principle is not just a mistake, it would be a great sin.
3. Devotees believe that idol is not just a stone but has divinity in it. The Devi is not an inanimate object to be coated on. Experts in various fields are consulted on various issues. The temple is a subject related to Hindu Dharma. Therefore, when it comes to the issue of erosion of idols and the corrective action, all decision should be taken under the guidance of experts on Hindu Dharma, i.e. saints, Dharmacharyas, Shankaracharyas etc. Here the guidance of the Shastras must be considered and not what the archaeology department feels like doing.
4. The wooden idols of Shri Jagannath, Shri Balbhadra, Shri Devi Subhadra, and Shri Sudarshan in the Jagannathpuri temple in Odisha are changed every 12 years to make a new idol. Even during the Ganeshotsav, if the idol of Shri Ganesha is broken or suffers damage, the idol is immersed and a new idol is instated and worshipped. It would be wise to consider these points even here.
