GUWAHATI: An Assam government tourist department advertising that Assam's Kamrup is the location of India's 6th Jyotirlinga is the subject of a growing debate. The advertisement features a picture of Assam's chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and invites worshippers to visit Dakini Hill on February 18 for Maha Shivaratri. The opposition in Maharashtra was incensed by the advertisement extolling the virtues of the 6th Jyotirlinga and said that, after industry, now Maharashtra's cultural and spiritual heritage was also being plundered.
"Have the BJP leaders decided not to keep anything for Maharashtra's share? Earlier Maharashtra's share of industry and employment was stolen and now our cultural and spiritual heritage is about to be stolen....!", Leader of the NCP Supriya Sule tweeted that Bhimshankar, which the advertisement stated was in Kamrup, is actually in Maharashtra's Pune district.
"Bhimashankar district of Maharashtra is the sixth Jyotirlinga among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Pune is known as Jyotirlinga. Situated in a very scenic area, this temple is a place of worship for countless devotees. But the state of Assam ruled by the BJP has started promoting the Shivlinga at Pamohi near Guwahati as the sixth Jyotirlinga. This is a very mischievous and untrue spread, "Tweet from Supriya Sule.
The MP stated that it is well known that Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is the source of the river Bhima and the forest of Dakini, citing Shrimad Adya Shankaracharya from his Brihad Ratnakara Stotra. And Bhimashankar, located in Maharashtra's Pune district, is alone one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples, according to Sule. What else requires testimony at this time?" the MP asked.
Congressman Sachin Sawant demanded an urgent clarification of the government's position over the Assam government ad from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "BJP has hurt the faith and sentiments of not just 12 crore people of Maharashtra but also of all Indians. Maharashtra is constantly being seen from the BJP's perspective "tweeted Sachin Sawant.
The Jyotirlingas, or manifestations of Lord Shiva, are many in this nation. Out of these, 12 are the most famous. The sixth Jyotirlinga in Dakini's Bhimshankar, however, is located in Maharashtra. Other jyotirlingas of Maharashtra are Tryambakeshwara, Parali Vajinath, Grishneswar, and Aundh Nagnath.
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