Offerings made to Muktinath going to individuals’ pockets

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Mygadi (Beni), Nov. 29: The monetary offerings made by the devotees to Muktinath temple, the famous religious place, have been snaffled by individuals for years.  

The devotees and religious tourists who come to visit the site offer money, gold and jewellery, but all these things go to the pocket of the priests of the temple.   

The stakeholders had suggested the donation amount should be brought under the Muktinath Area Development Committee. 

Only the cash donations received through donation boxes and cash receipts placed outside the temple are counted and deposited in the trust. 

Ten years ago, the then Appellate Court Baglung had decided to arrange the offerings made by devotees including gold, non-cash and precious ornaments as property of the temple. 

Even 10 years after the court's decision, it has not been implemented. A writ was registered with the demand that the offerings made by devotees inside the temple should be counted as property of Muktinath temple. 

The people's representatives and the Muktinath Area Development Committee have not shown interest in implementing the court's decision. 

The devotees offer more money inside the temple than in the donation box. If all the offerings are brought under the temple, a huge amount will accumulate in the treasury, said an employee.

President of the Committee and Chief District Officer, Janak Raj Pant said that nothing has been achieved despite discussions and debates on this issue. 

He said that the decision can be implemented by discussing it with the people's representatives and local stakeholders. 

The Buddhist Lama and Aani-Jhumas have been taking the offerings made by the devotees inside the temple for years. 

Although this issue is raised time and again, it has been difficult to reach a conclusion due to religious beliefs. 

Saraswati Thapa, Member Secretary of Muktinath Area Development Committee and head of the Land Revenue Office of Mustang, said that only the money collected in the donation boxes kept outside the temple will be counted and deposited into the fund. Thapa said that the committee now has about Rs. 80 million.