Religious and social circles have reacted strongly following a fire incident at the historic Maa Adi Badri temple located in Badiyakot village within the Kapkot tehsil of Bageshwar. Glacier Baba Swami Chaitanya Akash, associated with Devikund, has now shared his thoughts on the tragic event. He recalled an older controversy surrounding the removal of the Maa Bhagwati temple at Devikund and stated that the local community should ask the goddess for forgiveness. He also advocated for establishing a grand temple for Maa Bhagwati at Devikund and arranging proper worship facilities for devotees.
Severe damage to woodwork and cultural heritage
The fire at the Maa Adi Badri Bhagwati temple in Badiyakot village has caused extensive damage to the shrine's historic woodwork. This incident has left area residents and worshippers deeply aggrieved. Given the traditional wooden carvings and profound religious significance of the temple, the accident is widely regarded as a major blow to the cultural heritage of the region.
Reactions from Glacier Baba Swami Chaitanya Akash
Weighing in on the incident, Glacier Baba Swami Chaitanya Akash described the temple fire as deeply distressing. He questioned how such an event could occur at a shrine dedicated to the protector of the universe. In his statement, he referenced religious faith and previous disputes concerning the construction of the temple at Devikund.
The Devikund temple construction and past disputes
Glacier Baba recounted that roughly two years ago, during the Navratri festival, a temporary temple of Maa Bhagwati was erected at Devikund. According to him, he received a divine dream instructing him to build the temple while meditating at Devikund. The exact spot where he envisioned the temple also witnessed the appearance of a Swastik mountain. The construction was subsequently carried out under his guidance with the help of local residents. However, a controversy later arose surrounding the shrine, leading the administration to remove the temporary structure.
Criticism of politics at religious sites
Glacier Baba alleged that the temple construction issue was unnecessarily politicized. He asserted that people need to introspect on the events of past years and seek forgiveness from the mother goddess. According to his statement, matters linked to the sacred spaces of deities must respect local sentiments and faith, and politics should stay away from such places.
Hopes for restoring historical heritage
Glacier Baba further proposed establishing a grand temple for Maa Bhagwati at Devikund alongside the restoration of the Adi Badri temple. He emphasized the necessity of arranging regular daily prayers for visiting worshippers. Following the fire at the Badiyakot temple, public expectations regarding the preservation and reconstruction of the historical heritage have grown, while Glacier Baba's remarks have revived discussions over the older Devikund temple issue.
