Installation of Saint Tulsidas’s Statue at Tulasi Choura, Puri – To Be Recognized on India’s Tourism Map: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya
A statue of Saint Tulsidas Ji was ceremoniously installed at Tulasi Choura village near Chandana Pur in Puri, in accordance with traditional customs. The installation was carried out by Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Padma Vibhushan Rambhadracharya, the revered head of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot. During the event, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya shared that five hundred years ago, Saint Tulsidas had arrived in Puri and, after having darshan of Lord Jagannath at the Srimandir, stayed in this village. At that time, Tulsidas was overcome with doubt upon seeing the deity of Lord Jagannath and questioned the absence of hands and feet, thinking, “This cannot be my Ram.” It is believed that Lord Jagannath Himself appeared before Tulsidas in His form as Lord Ram, thus dispelling the saint’s confusion and affirming his faith.
Jagadguru Rambhadracharya emphasized that Tulasi Choura should be included in the national tourism map of India and assured that he would urge the government to take necessary steps in that direction. The event was graced by several spiritual leaders and dignitaries. Balak Yogeshwar Das Ji Maharaj from Badrinath, Mahant Dr. Ram Charan Das of Nebal Das Math, Mahant Shubhanand Puri of Mahiprakash Math, and Pandit Vishnu Charan Panda, founder of Govind Godham Goshala, participated in the celebration. BJP state leader Ranjita Padhi, senior servitor of the Jagannath Temple Madhusudan Singhari, social workers Dillip Khandelwal and Rita Khandelwal, along with Bijay Tebriwal, local leaders such as Sarpanch Mahendra Mahapatra, Village Committee President Balaram Mahapatra, Secretary Santosh Mahapatra, and Kulaguru Jagannath Shadanghi and Rabindra Shadanghi were also present.
The event was coordinated by senior journalist Bishnudatta Das. National General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rajya Sabha MP Arun Singh, BJP State General Secretary Manas Mohanty, and Umesh Khandelwal also attended the event and received blessings and darshan of Jagadguru Rambhadracharya.
