Unlike other Shankaracharyas of Puri, you are outspoken in your views. Over the past year, controversies have surrounded you and the Jagannath temple. How do you respond to it? 

The controversy has not cropped up because of us in any way. The controversy has cropped up due to the activities of the administration. The administration, through the Shree Jagannath temple management committee, had put certain questions to me in 2013 and had wanted specific opinion on some issues. In order to reach the opinion, I had invited the Chattisha Niyog (the confederation of the 36 sects of servitors) of the Jagannath temple, scholars from different parts of the country and sought their opinion. Even a three-day sameelani (convention) had been organised to reach a conclusion. The temple management committee chairman Puri king Dibya Singh Deb was also present during the deliberations. All deliberations were recorded. Later, I went through nearly 50 books to form my opinion on the questions that the temple management had put before me. Accordingly, I delivered my opinion, which was later accepted by the temple management committee.
 
Swamiji, could you be specific about the issues on which they had sought your opinion?

They had sought my opinion on whether the devotees could mount the chariots during the rath yatra or not. After the deliberations, I had given my opinion that only those who enjoyed the right to climb the chariots as per the tradition and whose services were required should mount the chariot and no one else. Besides, the Shankaracharya could mount the chariot. Everyone should remember that when Lord Jagannath had gone on patali (hibernation) and there was no news on his whereabouts, it was the Aadi Shankaracharya who had brought the Lord and again installed the deities in the sanctum sanctorum of the Shree Jagannath temple. 
According to the record of rights, Shankaracharya enjoys the right to give his opinion on the affairs of the temple and no one else. Don't consider Shankaracharya as an individual for he is an institution like the Pope, the Dalai Lama and the Prime Minister. The Shankaracharya enjoys the right to meddle with affairs of the temple and see that everything goes smoothly.
 
Was your opinion that devotees should not be allowed to go up the chariots to have darshan of the deities during the car festival influenced by the temple administration?

(Gets annoyed) Have you assumed that I am a salaried employee of the state government and will buckle under its pressure? The high court has made it clear that the Shakaracharya's opinion in religious matters is final. Do you think the court also acted under pressure?
 
But Swamiji, there is a temple management committee and a chief administrator to look into the affairs of the temple.

The administration has no right to meddle in the affairs of religious institutions such as temples and mutts. Even the high court has agreed that in religious affairs, the opinion of the Shankaracharya is sacrosanct and final. There should be no two opinions about it.
 
Coming to the issue of snana purnima (when the deities would be taken out of the sanctum sanctorum and bathed with 108 pots of holy water), the temple administration has decided that no one would be allowed to touch the deities (earlier, there was a ban on touching the deities on the chariots). What is your opinion on this?

Sometimes, the administration takes decisions using my name, If the issue is brought before me, I will give my opinion. But why should I give my opinion at this point? (Snana purnima is scheduled to be held on June 2. 
After this, the deities will fall sick and no one will be allowed to see them till the naba jauban darshan on July 17, one day before the car festival. This time, the temple administration has decided that the general public would not be allowed to have a darshan of Lords on the day of the naba jauban darshan.)

But the big question is that should the devotees be allowed to touch the deities? There is a debate that anyone can touch Lord Jagannath as he is the Patitapabana (saviour of the untouchables).

You can get the same amount of virtue even by just seeing the flag on the mast of the temple and the deities on the chariots.  Do you know why Jagannath is known as Patitapabana? One king, due to a mistake he committed, could not enter the temple. He wanted to know how he could see the Lord. The scholars came out with an idea that by installing the idol of Lord Jagannath at the entrance of the temple, he could have a glance of the Lord from outside the temple. Remember that while going for a darshan of the deities, you should be pure in your thought and mind and should not go there straight out of a bathroom. One has to be of a spiritual mind to offer the puja to the Lord. On the issue of touching the deities, I repeat, only those who are entitled should touch the deities and no one else.
 
A section of servitors, particularly the daitapatis are upset with your decision not to allow the devotees to mount the chariot and touch the deities.

Why should they be upset with me? I have asked the government to look after their financial conditions. There should be more residential schools for the children of the daitapatis so that they can read and be educated. The judgment on the issue of touching the deities has been delivered taking all aspects into account and not keeping the vested interests of any person or section. While reaching a decision on the issue, I had consulted everyone, including the Chhatisha Niyog, of which the daitapatis are also a part. I had delivered the judgment keeping the interests of everyone in mind. If anyone’s vested interest is affected by the decision, what can I do? You cannot satisfy all.
 
But they are unhappy with your decision…

You see, the Karnataka court had delivered its judgment on Tamil Nadu chief minister 
Jayalalitha, going by the law and not other issues (clearing her in the disproportionate assets in the case). Because of my decisions, lakhs of devotees are benefited. 
Just consider, if 10 lakh people are allowed to mount the chariots during rath yatra,what will be the condition of the chariots? Have you 
ever thought of this? There will be bhagadauda (stampede). The whole world will certainly scrutinise my decision. It’s a historic decision (not allowing people to climb the chariots).

A controversy has already started after the decision to stop naba jauban darshan on July 17. What is your opinion on this issue?

Suppose the Delhi administration gets an alert ahead of Republic Day and Independence Day that there will be a bomb blast, should the administration stop the parade and the events associated with it? Naba jauban darshan is a traditional affair and has been going on for decades. The temple administration should make adequate arrangements to see that the darshan goes smoothly.
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had come to you to seek your blessings. What did you tell him?

Not only Modi, but also Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and others had come. Many Congress leaders - Digvijay Singh, the late Vidya Charan Shukla, Ajit Jogi and others — have visited me.
During my meeting with Modiji for 50 minutes, I told him to visualise and realise the concept of development and not implement any scheme which will result in disharmony and lead to destruction. I had also shared my opinion with him on how to run the administration. Now it’s up to him to see whether he is in a position to carry out my advice.

While everyone is coming to you, why has not Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik visited you so far?

How can I answer that? You should put this question to him. But his ministers and MLAs come to me and also attend the my meetings.
 
There was a controversy over your alleged remarks on putting a ban on the entry of Dailts into temples. How do you respond to it?

It was at a meeting in Ranchi that the controversy started. There were nearly seven TV channels to cover the meeting. If I had really made any statement, they must have aired it repeatedly. But a particular newspaper distorted it and came out with its own interpretation. I know where to draw the line between the Constitution and religious practices. It will be sheer injustice to hold me guilty by distorting my statement.
 
There is a controversy regarding Shiridi Sai Baba - whether or not he should be treated as God. Swami Swoorupa Nanda Saraswati has aired his views on this issue. What is your opinion?

Should we throw our traditions to the dustbin? Suppose a wife considers her husband as God, should she put photos of her husband along with the gods on the same pedestal and offer prayers? Hindus have five Gana Devata (Ganesh, Narayana, Shiv, Durga and Surya) and they put them in the temple and offer their puja to them. Should we put Sai Baba’s photo there with them and start the puja? I had been to the village of Sai Baba. People consider him a Muslim. Can you place his idol in a Masjid (mosque)? Why is there an attempt to distort the Hindu culture? If you have belief in Sai Baba, you can offer prayers to him separately. No one will oppose this. But no attempt should be allowed to create arajakata (anarchy).

Do you believe in rebirth?

What is your age? You must have seen a number of dreams during your lifetime. At the time of the dream, you get separated from your body. There are two separate identities. With this example, I can say there is re-birth.

(The interview was conducted last Saturday before the temple administration decided to invite Shankaracharya to come, along with six disciples, to offer prayer to Lord at the snana bedi or bathing altar on June 2 and rath yatra on July 18)