Puri: The year-long impasse involving the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and Shankaracharya of Puri Govardhan Peeth over climbing of chariots by the seer ended today with the former softening its stance and inviting the Shankaracharya for the purpose.
As per the decision of SJTA governing body, Gajapati Maharaja of Puri Divyasingha Dev, its chairman, called on the Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati here today and extended invitation to visit the chariots in the annual car festival and during the 'Snan Purnima' (bathing festival of the deities), SJTA officials said here.
Saraswati claimed the Gajapati Maharaja had admitted to the administrative lapses (on denying him to perform the age-old ritual) and assured him the same would not be repeated in future.
The Shankaracharya could visit the chariots with six of his disciples, but only the seer could touch the deities and not others, the officials said.
"No one can deny the rights being bestowed on the Shankaracharya. The administrative officials should work within their limits," Saraswati said.
A controversy had erupted in the run up to the car festival last year when SJTA, under the pressure of servitors of the 12th century shrine, had asked the seer to visit the chariots alone without his disciples.
The SJTA decision had its genesis to the opinion given by Shankaracharya against the public touching deities on the chariots during the car festival.
The Shankaracharya had said he would not visit the chariots alone.
Even as the stalemate continued, the SJTA came under severe criticism from different sections for its inept handling of the issue.
