Ban on milk anointing in Mumbai’s Babulnath temple, only water offering allowed

Mumbai . Shivling of Babulnath temple, which is considered to be the presiding deity of Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is being damaged by chemicals containing abir, sandalwood and milk. The temple trust has taken help from IIT Bombay by conducting a survey to save the Shivling from damage. The temple trust is awaiting the report from IIT Bombay. Whatever suggestions will be made in the report regarding the conservation of Shivling, the trust will take a decision after discussing it. The temple trust has appealed to all Shiva devotees to follow the instructions given by the temple trust while coming for darshan. At present, Dugdhabhishekam is not allowed in the temple.
Nitin Thakkar, president of Shri Babulnath Temple Charities, said that milk anointing has stopped in the temple since the Corona period. After 8 to 10 months, the priests of the temple noticed that Shivling was getting damaged due to rituals with chemical substances. To clear the doubts of the priests, the temple trust decided to conduct a survey from IIT Bombay. IIT Bombay’s team will advise on the conservation of Shivling. The report is expected to come by March. He said that Mumbaikars have faith in the Babulnath temple. We are very sensitive about the Shivling and will take all possible steps to preserve it.
According to the people associated with the temple, milk, water, honey, abir, gulal, sandalwood, bhasma, bilva patra, kaner flowers, dhatura etc. are offered in the rituals of Lord Shiva. Abir, sandalwood, ashes available in the market are mixed with adulteration and chemicals. Milk also contains calcium. There is a possibility of damage to Shivling due to these chemicals.
Babulnath is the most prominent Shivala (Shiva temple) of Mumbai. Experts from IIT-Bombay are preparing a report to save the centuries-old Shivling from damage. The 350-year-old relic is showing signs of weathering, due to which the temple authorities have curtailed the abhishek (offering) of milk, ash, gulal and miscellaneous offerings. Only water is allowed.
Babulnath Temple Trust President Nitin Thakkar said that the Shivling is 350 years old. Our priests who do regular puja recently found the crack and alerted us. Experts from the IIT inspected the site and prepared a preliminary report, pointing out the damage caused by the persistent effects of adulterants. The full report is expected within a few days.