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Since the
year of construction of the present temple, the
Orissa kings were its Chief patron. It was under
King Anangabhima III(1211-1238 AD), Lord
Purusottama Jagannath became the State Deity of the
Ganga empire. Like Ganga kings, the kings of
the succeeding Surya dynasty made extensive
endowments in land and jewelleries for the
Deities. The temple florished under patronage of
the independent kings of Orissa till the death
of Mukunda Deva, the last independent King of
Orissa in 1568 A.D.
Since the year of construction of the
present temple, the Orissa kings were its Chief
patron. It was under King Anangabhima III(1211-1238
AD), Lord Purusottama Jagannath became the
State Deity of the Ganga empire. Like Ganga
kings, t he kings of the succeeding Surya
dynasty made extensive endowments in land and
jewelleries for the Deities. The temple florished
under patronage of the independent kings of Orissa
till the death of Mukunda Deva, the last
independent King of Orissa in 1568 A.D.
The
system of worship of the Deities and rituals
in their present form,have an unbroken
tradition over 800 years. This maintenance and
administration of this great temple is like a small
state within a big state. The foundation of a sound
administrative system was laid by the Gajapati Kings
for smooth management of the temple. During the
British Rule, the Raja of Puri was appointed as
Raja Superintendent to manage the temple
administration. With a view to get
better administrative system, the State Government
passed " The Puri Shri Jagannath Temple
(Administration) Act, 1952 " with provisions to
prepare the Record of Rights and duties of
Sevayats and such other persons connected with the
system of worship and management of the temple.
Subsequently a special act known as " Shri
Jagannath Temple Act - 1955 " was enacted to
reorganise the scheme of management of the affairs
of the temple and its properties. The Act brought
in to force with effect from 27.12.1960 .In terms
of the provision of this act the
management, administration and governance of the
temple vests in a committee known as "Shri Jagannath
Temple managing committee. The act has under gone
amendments from time to time & finally the
administrative setup as per the amendment ,2004. The
present Managing Committee consists of the following
:
1.
Gajapati Maharaja of Puri -
Chairman
2. Additional
Chief Secretary, Orissa
Working Chairman
3. Chief
Administrator,
Ex-Officie Member- Secretary
Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri
4. Collector &
D.M.,Puri
Ex-Officio- Member
Deputy Chief
Administrator-
Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri
5. Commissioner of
Endowments, Orissa,
Ex-Officio- Member
6. Additional
Secretary, Law Department , Orissa Ex-Officio-
Member
(JTA In-Charge)
7. Superintendent
of Police ,Puri
Ex- Officio Member
8. Superintending
Archaeologist,
Ex- Officio Member
Archaeological Survey of India
Bhubaneswar Circle,Bhubaneswar
9. One person to
be nominated by the State Member
Government from among the persons entitled
to sit on the Muktimandap
10. Five persons
to be nominated by the State Member
Government from among the Sevaks of the temple
11. One person
representing the Maths and other Member
Institutions connected with the Seva- Puja or
nities of the Temple or any Hindu religions /
spiritual organization to be nominated by the
State Government.
12. Three persons
(one of whom shall be Chartered
Accountant) from among general public.
No person
who does not profess the Hindu religion , shall be
eligible for Membership.
The Chief
Administrator of Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri who shall
be appointed by the State Government from among
Members of the Indian Administrative Service not
below the rank of Commissioner and Professing
Hindu religion.
The Chief
Administrative shall be the Secretary of the Committee
and its Chief Executive Officer and shall, subject to
the control of the Committee have powers to
carry out its decision in accordance with the
provisions of this Act. |
