Vrindavan, May 5
Restoration work on the Sewa
Kunj, one of the four "leela sthalies" (most revered spots) of the
Radha-Krishna legend, has been temporarily halted with a local NGO
accused of playing with the "sanctity" and original design of the shrine
by local priests who themselves are being accused of promoting "narrow
interests".
"Serious objections were raised to the so-called
beautification which violated the original ethos and ambience of one of
the most visited and respected sites of Vrindavan. We went to the court
(last week) and have got a stay. The next date (of hearing) is May 21,"
Sewa Kunj Samiti president Radha Kumud told IANS.
Over a
fortnight ago, beautification and overall makeover of one of the most
sacred shrines set amidst dense foliage by the NGO Braj Foundation came
under sharp criticism from the 'goswamis' (priests) managing its
affairs.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik was scheduled to open
the renovated pond and the grove, but changed his mind due to the
opposition.
Gaurav Gola, a spokesman for Braj Foundation, told
IANS: "Some people are unnecessarily raising fears and confusion. We
have restored the holy shrine and done our best to bring it back to its
glory, but narrow interests are preventing some people from looking at
the larger picture."
Neither had the green cover been reduced nor had any trees been cut, he added.
The
renovation work began in June 2011. Local folklore is that Krishna and
Radha spend the night in Sewa Kunj and join the Ras Leela (dances) with
the gopis. For this reason, after the evening prayers, the Sewa Kunj is
closed for visitors and nobody is allowed to enter.
Located in
the heart of Vrindavan, the spot was discovered by Swami Hit Harivansh
Ji in 1590. Since then the devout have been maintaining the site and
offering daily prayers here.
However due to general apathy and
lack of support from Agra's callous civic authorities, the Sewa Kunj and
the grove encircling it were reduced to a huge garbage dump. Without
water, the green cover had been denuded and the boundary wall has
collapsed at several points.
"Before the renovation and sprucing
up of the area around the Sewa Kunj began, the holy forest was in ruins
and buried under municipal debris. Those who visited the site became
victims of monkeys who snatched away their belongings. But now, the
scenario has drastically changed and even the monkeys are under
control," a local priest, Girdhari Lal, told IANS.
The new-look
Sewa Kunj right now is a star attraction of Vrindavan with hundreds of
domestic and foreign pilgrims making a beeline for the premises, which
is shielded by spiked wires to prevent monkeys from entering. The Lalita
Kund too has been given a makeover, with new fountains and shady
ornamental trees planted all around.
While the work done by the
local NGO has been widely appreciated by pilgrims and visitors, a small
group of priests engaged by the shrine, called "sewayats", is opposed to
the development and beautification.
The work done by the NGO at
several other sites in the Braj area has been commended by independent
observers. On March 11, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minster Akhilesh Yadav had
formally opened a renovated holy pond called Rudra Kund at Jatipura in
the Goverdhan area.
A section of Vrindavan goswamis is angry
with the restoration work done by the Braj Foundation. One of them
claimed that the NGO had done serious harm to the "original ethos" of
the shrine grove.
"The original swaroop (character) is lost as
the whole of the grove is now covered with the metal net. It looks like a
modern garden rather than an ancient grove," Pradyumna Pratap Maharaj
of the Meera Bai Temple told IANS.
A priest, Bihari Lal
Vashishtha, told IANS: "They could have adjusted the restoration designs
without harming the natural ambience. But they chose to go ahead with
the construction work instead of planting new trees and helping the old
groves to prosper."
"Many trees have already been destroyed. The
ancient look of the grove has already been finished. It will take many
years to revive the original swaroop. We shall do our best to revive
it," another priest, Prem Kumar Goswami, told IANS.
Sewa Kunj
management committee president Radha Kumud told IANS: "Yes, differences
are definitely there. The beautification plan does not conform to the
original design. Greenery has been affected. What is happening in
Vrindavan is not right."
Eminent conservationist of Vrindavan
Laxmi Gautam told IANS: "Wall paintings were being repainted, stones
with carvings and names of donors had been removed and so many
deviations from the original had taken place. This is not conservation.
You can't reduce Vrindavan to a touch-and-go type tourist spot. Please
do not play with the feelings and faith of the Brajbasis."
(Brij Khandelwal can be contacted at [email protected])
