Bhubaneswar, 26 August (H.S.): A controversy has erupted over the proposed animated film on Lord Jagannath and the upcoming serial Jai Jagannath, with Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Govardhan Math, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, raising strong objections to the alleged depiction of the deity.

According to a press release issued by the residential office of Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb, the Shankaracharya expressed his views on the animated productions being made by Bhubaneswar-based Ele Animations Pvt. Ltd. The Muktimandap Pandit Sabha in Puri subsequently apprised the Gajapati Maharaja of the Shankaracharya’s position.

The Muktimandap Pandit Sabha has also sought reconsideration of the Supreme Court’s earlier decision declining to stay the release of the film.

The Shankaracharya alleged that portraying the Daru Brahma form of Lord Jagannath—the divine manifestation associated with the sacred wooden deities—in a distorted manner would violate established religious traditions.

The Shankaracharya called for a complete prohibition on the circulation through any medium of what he termed distorted representations of Lord Jagannath and other deities, as well as unverified animated portrayals of their divine pastimes.

The controversy comes amid discussions over the proposed animated productions and the manner in which Lord Jagannath and related religious traditions are represented on screen. The issue has brought questions of religious sentiment, artistic representation and judicial scrutiny into focus.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda