5 days ago
Prayagraj temples ban poly bags, packaged milk
Prayagraj: Starting from the holy month of Shrawan, devotees visiting Shri Mankameshwar Mahadev and Rinmukteshwar Mahadev in Prayagraj will no longer be allowed to offer milk in polythene packages or plastic bottles.
The temple management has issued a strict directive requiring devotees to bring milk in traditional containers such as brass, copper, silver, or earthen pots. This decision was taken not only to uphold religious beliefs but also to safeguard the environment.
Shri Mankameshwar Mahadev Temple, located in Kydganj Mohalla on the banks of the Yamuna, holds historical and spiritual significance. The temple is mentioned in ancient scriptures like the Shiva, Padma and Skanda Puranas as 'Kameshwar Teerth,' where Lord Shiva is believed to have resided after burning Kamadeva, the God of Love.
The temple also houses the Shivling of Rinmukteshwar Mahadev, said to be established by Lord Suryadev in Treta Yug.
Every year, on the Monday of the Shravan month, lakhs of devotees throng the temple to offer prayers and perform Rudrabhishek, an important ritual involving the pouring of water, milk and other sacred items on the Shivling.
In recent years, concerns grew over the environmental impact caused by devotees bringing milk in polythene bags and plastic bottles.
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After the ritual, many would carelessly discard these polythene packets leading to littering and drain blockages.
The temple management earlier banned devotees from performing Rudrabhishek while wearing torn jeans, T-shirts, or pants, insisting that men wear dhotis and women wear ghotis or sarees.
Mahant Shridharanand Brahmachari of Shri Mankameshwar Mahadev Temple explained the spiritual and scriptural basis for these bans.
"According to the scriptures, water offerings should be made using gold, silver, brass, or copper vessels, commonly known as lotas, while milk offerings are ideally made in silver vessels or earthen pots if silver is unavailable. Steel, aluminium, iron, or polythene containers are considered inauspicious or impure," said the priest.
He emphasised that bringing packaged milk is a convenience-driven practice, but it leads to sin when devotees discard polythene in the temple, thus disrespecting the sanctity of the place.
In a similar eco-friendly stance, the management of the famous Padila Mahadev temple has banned offering of flowers wrapped in polythene. According to the temple authorities, devotees often leave these flower packets near the deity or scatter it around the temple grounds, contributing to garbage buildup and clogging of drainage systems.
