PIL seeks CBI probe in row among Kanchi temple priests

CHENNAI: The scuffle between the Vellalas and Desikas, both followers of Nammalwar, has reached the Madras high court with the former seeking a CBI probe into a recent altercation between the groups during the birthday celebration of the saint in

Varadharaja Perumal temple

, Kancheepuram.


Moving a PIL, S Sridharan, a resident of T Nagar alleged that the Commissioner of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department (HR & CE), under whose control the temple remains, was acting in a biased manner, thereby depriving the rights of the followers of

Nammalvar

, who originally belong to the most backward Vellala community.

The commissioner denied the right of the Vellala community (Nammalvar community) from rendering Dravida Vedam to Lord Varadarajan during the birthday celebrations of Nammalwar on May 28, he alleged.

“The usual practice is that Lord Varadarajar, after being taken out in procession, would enter the sanctum sanctorum of Nammalvar and listen to the renderings of the followers for four hours and perform ‘satrumurai’ to the Nammalvar before leaving the premises. But this procedure was not followed on that day. Following a direction from the Commissioner, the Maniayakarar declared the closure of the event abruptly. Some Desikas, more particularly one by name Vijayaraghavan, removed their dhoties and thereby insulted both the lords. This was telecast live in the electronic media,” Sridharan said.

He wanted the court to order a CBI probe into the issue and punish those responsible. This apart, he wanted the court to direct the HR & CE to complete the ritual by arranging for the visit of lord Varadarajan to Nammalvar sannidhi, listen to the renderings of Nammalvars and perform the Satrumurai.

When the PIL came up for hearing before the first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justic P T Asha on Monday, the bench posted the matter before another division bench headed by Justice M M Sundresh for hearing on July 10.