After claiming that a temple in Uttarakhand near Badrinath is dedicated to her, actress Urvashi Rautela has found herself in hot water. The Daaku Maharaj actress boldly claimed in an interview with Siddharth Kannan that her name and persona are connected to the Urvashi Temple, which is located close to the revered Badrinath Dham. Religious leaders and residents in the area have strongly reacted negatively to the statement.
“There is a temple in my name in Uttarakhand. If one visits Badrinath, there is an ‘Urvashi temple’ right next to it,” Urvashi said during the interview. When asked whether people visit to offer prayers, she replied, “Ab mandir hai toh woh hi toh karenge (It’s a temple, they will do that only).”
The actress went on to add that students from Delhi University even offer prayers and “garland my pictures,” claiming they fondly call her “Damdamamai.” Urvashi insisted her statements were factual, citing news articles in her defence: “I am being serious about it. It is true. There are news articles about the same too. You can read them.”
However, her remarks have not gone down well with the religious community.
As per NDTV, Bhuwan Chandra Uniyal, the former religious officer of Badrinath Dham, firmly refuted the actress’s claim, calling it “misleading.” He explained that the temple in question is dedicated to Goddess Urvashi from Hindu mythology and holds a deeply revered place as one of the 108 Shaktipeeths. “It is not her temple. Such statements are unacceptable, and the government should take strict steps against anyone making such claims,” he emphasised.
Amit Sati, President of the Brahma Kapal Teerth Purohit Society, echoed this sentiment, condemning Urvashi’s comments and stressing that the ancient temple honours a divine figure, not any contemporary individual. “Such statements disrespect the religious sentiments of the people here,” he said.
Local Ramnarayan Bhandari said that no one has the right to customise a temple rich in mythology and spiritual legacy. Residents of the neighbouring villages of Bamni and Pandukeshwar have also voiced their outrage.
Urvashi Rautela sparked more discussion in the same interview when she said she wanted temples built in her honour in South India as well. Since she is currently working in the South Indian film industry, she stated openly that she hopes to receive the same level of recognition there as well. Given the cultural and religious sensitivities associated with temples and their spiritual significance, many have questioned whether such remarks are appropriate, which has only served to intensify the ongoing controversy.
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