Jagannath Temple Becomes the First Temple in the Country to Secure a Trademark

For the first time for an Indian religious site, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has secured trademark protection for key terms and symbols.

Secured terms (protection of specific words): 'Patitapavana' (Saviour of the fallen) and 'Ananda Bazar' (the area within the temple complex for consuming the sacred *Mahaprasad*).

Secured logo (protection of visual symbols/designs): 'Nilachakra' (the sacred eight-spoked metal disc atop the temple spire).

Arabinda Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, stated that the temple administration had observed certain individuals and entities using these sacred religious names and symbols for commercial purposes.

To prevent their misuse, the temple management committee decided to seek trademark protection for terms and symbols deeply associated with Lord Jagannath and authorized the Chief Administrator to take the necessary steps.

Accordingly, the administration applied for trademark registration for 29 names, terms, and symbols associated with the Jagannath tradition. Padhee stated that in the first phase, registration has been approved for the 'Nilachakra' logo and the wordmarks 'Ananda Bazar' and 'Patitapavana'.

This development comes a day after the West Bengal government announced that the 'Dham' signage would be removed from the Lord Jagannath temple in Digha; that temple had been inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in April last year.

Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri

The temple follows the Kalinga style of architecture (a sub-style of Nagara—North Indian—temple architecture).

The temple houses the idols of Lord Jagannath (an avatar of Lord Vishnu), his sister Goddess Subhadra, and his elder brother Lord Balabhadra (the holy trinity).

It is believed to have been built in the 12th century CE by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. It is generally believed that the temple is designed in such a way that the shadow of its main structure never falls on the ground at any time of the day.

The idols of the holy trinity are made of wood rather than stone or metal. It is one of the four *Dhams* (Dwarka, Badrinath, and Rameswaram).

Trademark

A trademark is an Intellectual Property Right (IPR) that protects a specific word, logo, symbol, phrase, or mark used to identify an entity's goods or services and distinguish them from others.

The Trademark Registry administers the Trade Marks Act, 1999, and the Trade Marks Rules, 2017.

It facilitates international trademark registration through the Madrid Protocol, of which India is a member. It operates under the 'Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks' (CGPDTM), which is affiliated with the DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Validity period: 10 years (renewable).