What happened inside the temple on June 15 and 16 when was the ritual of the transfer souls of the deities was conducted?

Everything was going on smoothly although various other associated rituals had already been delayed by a few hours. As the sacred moment for Brahma paribartan came, few servitors tried to enter the restricted area of the temple. Later, a scuffle ensued among the servitors. The team leader, Haladhar Das Mohapatra, had made it clear that no one except those authorised by the administration would be allowed to enter the restricted area. His decision prevailed but the Brahma paribartan was delayed by a few hours.
 
People have a perception that a number of servitors had forcibly entered to see the transfer of souls (Brahma paribartan) and it was not restricted to the four who were selected by the administration to perform the ceremony. As you transferred the soul of Lord Jagannath, tell us how many servitors did the job?

We four had transferred the souls. There should be no doubt about it. Though a few servitors had tried to enter the restricted area to witness the ritual of Brahma paribartan, they were not allowed.
 
But media reports said a large number of servitors had entered the temple premises and created  the mess. Even mobile phones were taken by some people inside the restricted area.

More than 100 servitors had entered the temple premises as the entire community was involved in the Nabakalebar. There are dozens of rituals involved in it and we could not skip a single one. We have to bring the new idols to the restricted area from where they were being constructed and take the old idols for giving them a burial.
As a number of rituals are associated with it, the service of a number of servitors is required.  Above all, it’s a community service. But at the time of the transfer of souls, we four daitapatis had entered the restricted area. I did the transfer of soul for Lord Jagannath, Ramachandra Das Mohapatra for Goddess Subhadra, Haladhar Das Mohapatra for Lord Balabhadra and Debraj Pati Mohapatra for Lord Sudarshan. On the issue of taking mobile phones to the restricted area, I say no one took phones inside. If the charge is proved, I will end my life.

There were media reports that a number of servitors had witnessed the “Brahma” which they should not have...

Sometimes the media, without going deep into the issue, plays up a story in different ways to catch the attention of the people.  The media should maintain restraint while dealing with sensitive issues. On the issue of seeing the Brahma, I can say that we have a ritual called “Brahma barshan”. After the Brahma paribartan is complete, all servitors go near the restricted area and see the Brahma, the manifestation of God itself.  At that time, they offer gifts according to their capacity. This time too, it had happened the same way. The seniors were first allowed to have a glimpse of Brahma followed by others. Let me be very clear that during the Brahma darshan, the Brahma was wrapped in silken cloth and no one could even visualise what it was.
 
There is a lot of discussion going on about the “Brahma”. Can you say what the Brahma is? At the time of the transfer of soul, were your hands were wrapped with silken cloths and were you blindfolded?

We cannot reveal it. But I can say Brahma is Satya itself. He is the manifestation of God Himself. He is the Jianta Thakura (the living God).  If we speak about it, we will be finished. But I can share that we had our hands wrapped while doing the job of the transfer of souls. We had also worn a turban and a small veil around the eyes so that we did not have any direct contact with the Brahma. But we could still see it, but we couldn’t exactly recognise what it was. We, then brought it out from the old idols, cleaned it, offered our puja and later put it in the new idols. It’s a lengthy process that takes 12 hours to complete. You will be surprised to know that Brahma paribartan takes place for five deities.

We had the idea the ceremony took place for four idols.

Yes. Apart from the Brahma of Lord Jagananth, Goddess Subhadra, Lord Balabhdra and Lord Sudarshan, that of Nila Madhav, considered as Lord Krishna, are transferred. Haladhar Das Mohapatra transferred the Brahma of Nila Madhav.

But what were the reasons for the delay? 

The delay began from the Debasnana Purnima (it was held on June 2 instead of June 1) itself because of there are some differences between the lunar and solar calendars. The carpenters did not have enough time to construct the idols and so all the rituals got delayed. One cannot skip any ritual. The temple administrator is inquiring into the matter and we should wait till that is complete.
 
Age-old traditions have been broken. The soul transfer should have been held at midnight but it was done during the day. It has hurt the sentiments of thousands of devotees. What do you have to say on this?

We are also sorry for the delay. But I can say that the Brahma paribartan was performed properly. I would just add that even during the day, there is complete darkness inside the restricted area of the temple where the ritual took place. In utter darkness, there was a candle to help us to do our job. In that light, you cannot really see the Brahma. The secrecy has been maintained.

Now people, including Puri Shankararchrya Swami Nishalananda Saraswati and Puri king Dibya Singh Deb, are 
demanding action against the erring daitapatis. 

The temple administration has also initiated steps in this regard (two daitapatis have since been suspended) and more heads are likely to roll.

The Daitapati Niyog has already expressed regret over the issue. We are sorry for this. 

Despite this, we will welcome any action against the erring daitapatis who have committed mistakes. The chief administrator has already started taking action in this regard.
 
Demands have been made to sack the chief temple administrator. The Congress observed a bandh today for this. The Puri Bar Association had observed a 12-hour bandh last Wednesday. What’s your take?

It has hurt us to see politics take the centre stage. We have noticed that political parties have reacted more than the common people. All of them should refrain from this. The demand to sack the chief administrator is also uncalled for at this moment. He is inquiring into the matter and all should wait till the outcome of the probe.
 
People have even demanded the resignation of the law minister and the chief minister…

At this moment, the resignation of someone or the other will not solve the issue. How can you blame the government on this issue? On that day, the temple doors were closed and we had to perform the rituals. Can the government be responsible for something going wrong because of us? I don’t want to go deep into it or I will be misunderstood.

Yesterday, just one day before the Congress’s Odisha bandh, you and the other two chief servitors spoke to the media and said nothing wrong had been committed in the transfer of souls. People have a feeling that the news conference was called at the behest of the government.
 

No. I am neither a government servant nor do I belong to any party. I only bow my head 
before Lord Jagannath and none else. I have my self-esteem. We just shared our emotions and wanted to reveal what had happened.

But the pertinent question is that daitapatis have played with the sentiments of the devotees. Even 
members of Chhatisha Niyog (confederation of 36 sects of servitors) demanded capital punishment for the daitapatis!

It’s a democratic county. All of us have the right to speak on any issue. So he has given his view. It’s for the people to decide.

There is public perception that the internal squabbles among the servitors led to the delay in the transfer of souls. Now the daitapatis are a divided house…

There are many reasons for the delay and we cannot attribute it to a single reason. But we have accepted the moral responsibility for the delay. About differences among us, you see difference of opinion in every home. It has happened in our case. We are still united. You witnessed how everyone had participated in Nabakalebar yatra (related to search of wood for nearly one-and-a-half months). Now whatever differences we have, they will be sorted out. It’s our family problem and no other should intervene in it.

Was the selection of daru (sacred log) right for construction of the new idols?

Now that the daru has been finalised and the construction of idols of the Lords is over, there is no point raising questions on that. The daru should not be looked at as a simple log. It has been converted into Maha Daru and is now being used for the idols of the deities.