Urvashi Rautela recently faced widespread backlash after she made an astonishing claim that a temple dedicated to her exists in Uttarakhand near the Badrinath shrine. The actress also expressed her desire for a similar temple to be built in South India, citing the considerable number of films she has done in the region. This led to a huge controversy, infuriating Badrinath priests and locals.
Now, Urvashi’s team has issued an official clarification on the entire row. Their statement highlighted that Rautela never claimed ownership of the temple or referred to it as hers in a possessive way.
“Urvashi Rautela said that there is a temple in her name in Uttarakhand, not ‘Urvashi Rautela’s temple’. Now, people don’t even listen properly; just hearing ‘Urvashi’ or ‘temple’, they assume that people worship Urvashi Rautela. Please listen to the video properly before forming opinions," the statement read.
The team also noted that Urvashi Rautela has long been nicknamed ‘Damdami Mai’ by students of Delhi University, and that this title has appeared in media reports before.
“Urvashi said, yes, at Delhi University, she was referred to as ‘Damdami Mai’, and there’s a news article supporting this. Legal action should be taken against those who have made misleading remarks about Urvashi Rautela’s statement," the clarification added.
Urvashi’s team also warned of potential legal action against those misrepresenting her words.
Further, Rautela’s team appealed for respectful discourse, stating, “It is essential that, before making baseless allegations or derogatory comments against any individual, the facts are thoroughly verified. Everyone in society should treat one another with respect and understanding, so that everyone’s rights are protected."
In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, Urvashi claimed, “There is a temple in my name in Uttarakhand. If one visits Badrinath, there is a ‘Urvashi temple’ right next to it." When asked if people go to the temple to seek blessings, she laughed and said, “Ab mandir hai toh woh hi toh karenge (It’s a temple, they will do that only)."
Siddharth followed up by asking whether people actually take blessings at the temple, to which Urvashi replied, “Aise chilla chilla ke kaun bolta hai (Who shouts and takes blessings)."
She added that the temple does attract devotees and claimed that even students from Delhi University offer prayers to her. “They even garland my pictures," she said, further revealing that she is fondly referred to as ‘Damdamamai’ by these students.
“I am being serious about it. It is true. There are news articles about the same too. You can read them," Urvashi asserted when the host reacted with astonishment.
The Urvashi Temple near Badrinath Dham, which the actor referred to in her claim, holds deep religious significance for locals. According to different legends, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Urvashi, believed to have either emerged from Lord Vishnu’s thigh or from the sacred site where parts of Goddess Sati’s body are said to have fallen.
According to media, local priest Bhuwan Chandra Uniyal, who previously served as the religious officer at Badrinath Dham, rejected Urvashi Rautela’s claim and called it misleading. He clarified that the Urvashi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Sati, a highly revered figure in Hindu mythology, and is regarded as one of the 108 Shaktipeeths. Uniyal also underlined the temple’s deep spiritual importance for the residents of Bamni and Pandukeshwar, where it continues to be a vital part of their religious traditions.
“It is not her temple. Such statements are unacceptable, and the government should take strict steps against anyone making such claims," Uniyal told the publication. Amit Sati, President of the Brahma Kapal Teerth Purohit Society, also expressed his disapproval of Rautela’s remarks. He further clarified that the temple is ancient and linked to Goddess Urvashi, not to any individual. “Such statements disrespect the religious sentiments of the people here," he added.
Locals from Bamni and Pandukeshwar, who hold the Urvashi Temple in high reverence, have strongly criticised Urvashi Rautela for her recent comments. Among them, resident Ramnarayan Bhandari stated that no individual has the right to make personal claims about a temple that carries such deep-rooted mythological and cultural significance. He added that the entire community is upset and firmly condemns Rautela’s remarks.
