HR & CE runs into another problem at Thiruvahindrapuram temple

A.V. RAGUNATHAN

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After overcoming a hurdle prior to the performance of samprokshanam at Sri Devanatha Swamy Temple at Thiruvahindrapuram near here, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department is facing another stumbling block in organising the 10-day-long Brahmotsav that should have kicked off on Friday.

In the absence of the senior most Bhattacharyars namely Neelamegham Bhattacharyar and Narasimha Bhattacharyar, who have been retired and placed under suspension respectively, the other Bhattacharayars have claimed lack of knowledge in conducting the Brahmotsav.

Therefore, the flag hoisting ceremony that should have taken place in the early hours of Friday did not happen. However, the HR & CE Department is quite keen that the festivities would be held by requisitioning suitable Bhattacharyars from elsewhere.

Executive Officer of the temple K. Nagarajan assertively told The Hindu that even though there was said to be paucity of well informed Bhattacharyars the department was not sparing any effort to bring those who were well versed in Agamas to conduct the rituals.

The search was on all over Tamil Nadu and if such of scholarly persons were not available in the State the department would even explore the possibility of roping in eligible priests from Tirupati.

Mr. Nagarajan emphatically said that the Brahmotsav would not be put off but would certainly be performed by all means. The local community was quite apprehensive that if the utsav was not held they would have to face divine wrath.

He further said that the samprokshanam was performed without any hassles by Pulavanur Kannan Bhattacharyar, thereby ending the uncertainty over the event. The aggrieved Bhattacharyars filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court.

But it is reliably learnt that the High Court has rejected the writ petition. It has come as a shot in the arm of the HR & CE Department to redouble its efforts to go ahead with its efforts to complete the Brahmotsav too without any hiccup.

The Commissioner of HR & CE Department has been directly supervising the arrangements.

Pilgrims at Tirumala protest by raising slogans

Bar on entry into temple to perform ‘Anga Pradakshinam' upsets devotees

This temple town, which usually wakes up to Vedic hymns, on Friday woke up to protests by a section of devotees who also resorted to slogan-shouting in the early hours on the Supatham Marg at the massive Vaikuntam queue complex. The pilgrims raised slogans against the TTD management and denounced its apathy in addressing their problem. They questioned the propriety of the staff manning the Vaikuntam complex in not allowing them into the temple to perform the ‘Anga Pradakshinam' and fulfil their prayers even though they possessed authorised darshan tokens and had come to the complex in time.

The devotees lashed out at the management for subjecting them to difficulties for no fault of theirs. They maintained that even though they reached the Vaikuntam queue complex as early as 1.15 a.m., much ahead of the scheduled time of 2 a.m., they were denied entry to perform Anga Pradakshinam. They said that they were in all about 100 to 150 members and their repeated requests not only fell on deaf ears but they were forced to return without the darshan of the Lord.

Anga Pradakshinam (rolling over around the temple in wet clothes during the Suprabhatha Seva) is a vow made by devotees seeking divine intervention to bail them out when they are passing through troubled times in their life.

BIO-METRIC TICKETS

The TTD issues about 750 Anga Pradakshinam bio-metric tickets through bank counters and the devotees are asked to report at Supatham Marg at 2 a.m.

Meanwhile, temple sources attributed the reason to special rituals being organised inside the temple in connection with the Bhashyakarla Utsavams.

Things were no different even in the darshan lines meant for senior citizens and differently-abled devotees. Even though some devotees could make it to the entry point ahead of the scheduled time, they were not allowed to join the queues.

They were in fact forced to wait for long hours in the scorching sun until the turn of the next batch of pilgrims who were permitted into the temple after an interval of four hours.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3363575.ece

Science-spirituality: 2 sides of same coin?

Sumaa Tekur | April 28, 2012 | 0 Comments

Nestled on the banks of the Cauvery river, around 30km from Mysore, a new temple construction has, for months, been attracting curious devotees and architecture enthusiasts by the dozen. The eager villagers on the streets were more accurate than my phone’s GPS in helping me track the road to this much-talked-about Vishnu temple.

The narrow winding road led to the very edge of the Cauvery. The river took a sharp turn towards the KRS dam. At this curve, stood the new temple in majestic glory, with the river giving it a protective hug from the back. Though the temple was not formally opened, it was drawing visitors in carloads. I was taking in the beauty of the carvings in the inner temple complex, when I overheard a man explain to a couple that he is one of the sculptors of the new temple. He waxed eloquent about the different construction styles and also about the science of temple construction.

Temples were not originally designed for prayer. They were powerful energy centres where believers went to recharge and feel energised and ready to face life. Hindu temples are built with the aim of conserving energy and radiating this positive energy to visitors. The science of temple construction is called Agama Shastra, the sculptor explained. He also gave the scientific explanation to the actions of devotees when they visit temples.

Why devotees walk clockwise around the garbagriha.

Temples are located strategically at a place where they can attract and retain maximum positive energy through magnetic and electric wave distributions. The sanctum sanctorum or garbagriha, where the idol of the temple’s reigning deity is kept, is where this energy is concentrated to the maximum. In Hindu tradition, when a temple is built, copper plates inscribed with important Vedic shlokas are buried directly beneath where the main idol is kept. These plates absorb the earth’s magnetic waves and radiate them. Therefore, a person walking clockwise around the garbagriha is said to absorb these positive energies. Repeat­ed visits to the temple to absorb this energy promotes general good health of the visitor, it is said.

Why men don’t wear shirts and women must wear lots of ornaments.

Devotees believe that it’s most auspicious to get a glimpse of the idol as soon as the doors are opened after decoration and lighting of oil lamps within the garbagriha. This is because the concentrated energy gushes out and is easily absorbed by devotees. Some temples ask that men don’t wear shirts. It is said that women wear more ornaments because this energy is absorbed by them through the metals.

Bells, oil lamps and theertha

People believe that the bell is to call for the attention of God so that the devotee’s wish is granted. The scientific reason for the bell in temples, and most places of worship, is to control the human mind and not allow it to be distracted. If the mind is full of things to do, places to go, people to meet, worries, fears, anxieties, etc, the ringing of the bell calms it down and forces it to the present.

The oil lamp inside the garbagriha radiates heat energy and, apart from providing light inside the sanctum, it adds to the high energy levels.

Water that is used to wash the idol is given as theertha to devotees. This also contains the energy from the sanctum. The magnetic radiations give it medicinal values. Tulsi leaves are also dropped in the water enhancing its health properties.

A visit to the temple is known to attract positive energy. The mind, however, should be free of doubt and prejudice. Going with the flow and an open mind will also add to the spiritual-science experience.

The writer is a Bangalore-based commentator.

Source: http://postnoon.com/2012/04/28/science-spirituality-2-sides-of-same-coin/45771

நசியனூர்: அறநிலையத் துறையின் அராஜக கோயில் சிதைப்புகள்

April 27, 2012

- கோமதி செட்டி 

மாலிக் காஃபூர் படையெடுப்பை பற்றியும் அதன் மூலம் நமது கோயில்கள் எவ்வாறு அழிக்கப்பட்டன் என்பதை பற்றியும் பலர் அறிந்திருப்பீர்கள். தங்களது மதக் கடமையாக ஜிஹாத் என்ற பெயரில் இஸ்லாமிய ஆக்கிரமிப்பாளர்கள் அந்த பேரழிவுகளையும், கொடுமைகளையும் அரங்கேற்றினார்கள் என்பது வரலாற்றில் பதிவாகியுள்ளது.

ஆனால் நமது கலாசாரத்தையும், சமயத்தையும் பாதுகாக்கும் பணிக்காகவே உருவாக்கப் பட்ட அரசுத் துறைகளே கோயில் பாரம்பரியத்தை திட்டமிட்டு சிதைக்கும் கொடுமை இப்போது பல இடங்களில் நடந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறது. காந்தியின் பெயரை வைத்து கொண்டு காந்தியத்தை அழிக்கும் நேருவின் வம்சத்தை போல், அறத்தை காக்க நமது மன்னர்களாலும் சான்றோர்களாலும் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட கோயில்களை, அதே அறத்தின் பெயரால் கிறித்துவ பாதிரியார் பெற்றெடுத்த திராவிட இனவாத அரசியல் வியாதிகள் நமது கோயில்களை திட்டமிட்டு அழித்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறது. அந்த கொடியவர்களின் கொடுங்கோல் நிர்வாகவத்தில் நடந்த அநியாயங்கள் ஏராளம்.
ஐம்பொன் சிலைகளை வெளி நாட்டுக்கு கடத்தினார்கள். கோயில் நகைகளை வெளி நாட்டுக்கு கடத்தினார்கள். கற்சிலைகளை வெளி நாட்டுக்கு கடத்தினார்கள். தற்பொழுது கோயிலையே பெயர்த்தெடுத்து கடத்த ஆரம்பித்துவிட்டார்கள் இந்த திராவைகள்.

கொங்கு மண்டலம் என்று அழைக்கப்படும் ஈரோடு மாவட்டம் நசியனூரில் தான் இந்த அதிர்ச்சி அளிக்கும் சம்பவம் நடந்து உள்ளது. நசியனூர் என்ற இந்த பழம் பெருமை வாய்ந்த தலம் ஈரோட்டில் இருந்து சுமார் பத்து கிலோ மீட்டர் தொலைவில் கோவை – சேலம் நெடுஞ்சாலையில் அமைந்து இருக்கிறது இந்த நசியனூர். திருதலத்தில் ஸ்ரீ முத்துமரகதவல்லி சமேத மூவேந்திர ஈஸ்வரர் அருள்பாலிக்கிறார். ஈஸ்வரன் கோயிலின் இடதுபுறம் கிழக்கு நோக்கி ஸ்ரீ பூதேவி நீதேவி சமேத ஆதிநாராயண பெருமாள் அருள்பாலிக்கிறார். இந்த பல ஆயிரம் வருட பழமையான கோயில் ஹிந்து சமய அறநிலை துறையின் கட்டுபாட்டில் உள்ளது. மூவேந்தர்களால் கட்டப்பட்ட இந்த சிறப்பு மிக்க புண்ணிய தலம் அற(மற்ற) நிலையத் துறையின் அகோர பசிக்கு இரையாக்கி கொண்டு இருக்கிறது.

பல கோடி மதிப்புள்ள புராதான பெருமை மிக்க கோயில் மண்டபம் (திருடுவதற்கு முன்பு):

எத்தனையோ சிற்பிகள் கடும் உழைப்பில் உருவான விலை மதிப்பற்ற நமது பாரம்பரிய சொத்து இன்று களவாடப்பட்ட நிலையில்….

இத்தோடு விட்டார்களா இந்த படுவாவிகள்? இல்லை. பல நூற்றாண்டுகள் கம்பீரமாக நின்ற எனது இறைவன் முருக பெருமானுக்கு கட்டப்பட்ட கோயிலையே மொத்தமாக கொள்ளை அடித்து உள்ளனர். தற்பொழுது அரை நூற்றாண்டுக்கு கூட தாங்காத வகையில் சிமெண்ட் கற்களை வைத்து ஒரு போலி மண்டபத்தை கட்டி கொண்டு இருக்கிறார்கள் –

இந்த மண்டபங்கள் ஆந்திராவில் இருந்து கொண்டு வரப்பட்ட லாரிகளில் அழகாக வெட்டி எடுக்கப்பட்டு பார்சல் செய்யப்பட்டு அனுப்பப்பட்டதாக சொல்கிறார்கள். வடிவேல் ஒரு படத்தில் “ என்னோட கிணற காணோங்க” என்று சொல்வார். ஆனால் இங்கு உண்மையாகவே ஒரு பெரிய மண்டபம் பகலில் ஊர் மக்களை ஏமாற்றி சுட சுட வெட்டி பார்சல் செய்து உள்ளனர். ஆனால் இது எல்லாம் எதுவுமே தெரியாதது போல் இந்த இந்து சமய அறநிலை துறையின் நிர்வாக அதிகாரி கண்ணை மூடி கொண்டு இருந்துள்ளார். எத்தனையோ ஏழைகள் கொண்டு வந்து போடும் ஊண்டியல் பணத்தில் வயிறு வளர்க்கும் இந்த அதிகாரிகள் கொஞ்சம் கூட விசுவாசம் இல்லாமல் உண்ட வீட்டிற்கே துரோகம் செய்து உள்ளனர்.

இதற்கு பிறகும் இவர்களின் அரக்க தனம் குறையவில்லை. கோயில் தூண்களை சுத்தப்படுத்துகிறேன் என்ற பெயரில் ’SAND BLASTING’ (மணலை சிலைகள் மீது தண்ணீர் போல் பீச்சி அடித்தல்) என்ற தடை செய்யப்பட்ட தொழில் நுட்ப முறையில் எத்தனை கோடி கொடுத்தாலும் செய்ய முடியாத கலை நயம் மிக்க சிலைகள் மட்டும் கோயில் மதிர் சுவர்கள் மற்றும் பழங்காலத்து தரவுகளை மழுங்கடித்து உள்ளனர். இதை பற்றிய ஆதார படங்கள் கீழே உள்ளன.

SAND BLASTING செய்வதற்கு முன்பு இருந்த கோயில் சுவர்கள் (கல்வெட்டுகள் இரண்டாம் அடுக்கில் உள்ளது) –

SAND BLASTING செய்த பின்பு பொலிவு இழந்த நிலையில் ஓட்டை ஒடிசல்களுடன் கோயில் சுவர்கள் –

சீரழிக்கப்பட்ட கோயில் சுவர்கள், SANG BLASTING தாக்குதல் தாங்க முடியாமல் உடைந்து விழும் கோயில் சுவர்கள் –

வரம் கொடுத்தவன் தலையில் கையை வைத்த பஸ்மாசுரனை போல கோயில் கருவரையிலேயே இவர்கள் தங்கள் ஊழலை கொண்டு சென்று உள்ளனர். கோயிலின் ஆகம தர்மம் மற்றும் அதன் புணிதம் கெடுக்கும் வகையில் கோயில் கருவறைக்குள் தர்மத்தை மீறி இவர்கள் கல்லா கட்டுவதற்காக டைல்ஸ் ஒட்ட போகிறார்கள். இதற்கான ஆதார படங்கள் கீழே….

கோயில் கருவரை மண்டபம் மற்றும் அதில் போடப் போவதாக சொல்லப்படும் டைல்ஸ் –

இதை பற்றிய மேலும் பல்வேறு படங்களுக்கு இந்த இணைப்பில் சொடுக்கவும்.

இத்தனை அநியாயங்களும் இந்து சமய அறநிலை துறையால் நியமிக்கப்பட்ட பல ஆயிரம் சம்பளம் பெறும் கோயில் நிர்வாக அதிகாரியின் முன்னிலையிலேயே நடைபெற்று உள்ளது. இந்த கிராம மக்கள் அப்பாவிகள் இது குறித்து எந்த தகவலும் அறியாமல் அறநிலை துறை எதோ அவன் காசு போட்டு நல்லது செய்கிறான் என்ற நினைப்பில் இருந்து விட்டுள்ளனர்.

திருக்கோயில்களின் வருமானத்தை ஏற்கனவே இந்த அறநிலையத் துறை கூட்டம் தின்று வயிறு வளர்த்து கொண்டு இருக்க தற்பொழுது அது போதாது என்று சில திருடர்களுடன் சேர்ந்து கோயில்களையே புனர் அமைக்கிறேன் என்ற பெயரில் திருடி கொண்டு இருக்கிறது. இவர்கள் வழி தனி வழி. அதாவது கொள்ளையர்களிடம் கோயில் பொறுப்பை ஒப்படைத்து விட்டு பிறகு அவர்களை கொள்ளை அடிக்க வைத்து அதில் பங்கு வாங்கி கொள்வார்கள். நாளை ஏதாவது பிரச்சனை என்றாலும் கூட அந்த கொள்ளை அடித்தவனை கை காட்டி விட்டு இவர்கள் எஸ்கேப் ஆகி விடுவார்கள். படித்தவர்கள் அல்லவா? அவ்வாறு தான் இருப்பார்கள். இவர்களின் இந்த கபட நாடகத்தை அறியாமல் பல அப்பாவி பொதுமக்கள் இவர்களிடம் ஏமாந்து விடுகிறார்கள். பொது மக்கள் பார்வையில் கோயில் புணர் நிர்மானம் செய்யபடுகிறது என்பது போல தான் தெரியும். உள்ளே சென்று பார்த்தால் தான் தெரியும் இவர்கள் திருட்டுதனம் என்னவென்று…

அதாவது பெரிய கோயில்களில் வரும் பல கோடி வருமானத்தை ஏழை ஹிந்துகளுக்கும் அழியும் நிலையில் இருக்கும் நமது பாரம்பரிய விவசாயம், கலைகள், தொழில் நுட்பங்கள், வனவாசிகள் போன்ற மக்களுக்கு கொடுக்காமல் கோயில்களை நிர்மானம் செய்தேன் என்ற பெயரில் பல கோடிகளை ஒதுக்குகிறார்கள். இதில் அவர்களுக்கு ஒரே கல்லில் இரண்டு மாங்காய்.

புணர் நிர்மானம் செய்கிறேன் என்று வசூல் வேட்டை நடத்தி அதில் கொஞ்சம் விழுங்கி மீதியை காண்ட்ராக்ட் விட்டு விழுங்கி விடுகிறார்கள். அது மட்டும் இன்றி பல கோடி மதிப்புள்ள புராதாணம் மிக்க சிலைகளை மற்றும் தூண்களை சேதப்படுத்தப்பட்டுவிட்டது என்று கூறி அதை கோயில்களில் இருந்து நீக்கி விடுகிறார்கள். இவ்வாறு நீக்கப்பட்ட சிலைகள் எங்கு போகும் என்று நான் சொல்ல தேவையில்லை.

அது மட்டுமா? மார்பல் போடுகிறேன் டயல்ஸ் போடுகிறேன் என்ற பெயரில் திருகோயிலின் ஆகமத்தை கெடுத்து தெய்வ சக்திக்கு குந்தகம் ஏற்படுத்தி கோயிலின் புணிதத்தை போக்கி விடுகிறார்கள். பாரமரிக்கப்படாத பூமியில் கருவேல மரங்கள் முழைப்பது போல், தெய்வ சக்தி இல்லாத மனதில் ஆப்பிரகாமிய மதமாற்றம் என்ற தீய சக்தி உள்ளே நுழைந்து விடுகிறது. கோயிலுக்கு வருமானம் வந்தால் அதை ஆக்கிரமிக்க ஓடி வரும் தண்டல்காரர்கள் பல ஆயிரம் வருட பழமையான கோயில்களை மருந்துக்கு கூட கண்டு கொள்வது இல்லை.

இது குறித்து எத்தனையோ கடிதங்கள், முறையீடுகள், காவல் துறை விண்ணப்பங்கள் செய்தாயிற்று. ஆனால் இந்த கொள்ளை கூட்டத்திம் மீது யாரும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வில்லை. இந்து சமய அறநிலை துறை இணை ஆணையர் மற்றும் ஆணையர்க்கு மனுக்களும் வழங்கப்பட்டுவிட்டது. இந்த அதிகார மற்றும் நிழல் உலக சக்திமிக்க கூட்டத்தை எதிர்த்து காவல் துறையில் யாரும் புகார் கொடுக்கவும் முன்வரவில்லை. அதன் பிறகு பல கட்ட போராட்டத்திற்கு பின்பு நல் உள்ளம் கொண்ட ஒரு சிலரது முயற்சியால் லஷ்மி நாராயணன் என்ற வக்கீல் மூலம் காவல் துறையில் புகார் மனு கொடுக்கப்பட்டது. இவ்வளவு நடந்தும் கோயில் பணத்தில் தனது வயிற்றை நிரப்பி கொள்ளும் இந்து சமய அறநிலை துறை அதிகாரிகள் ஒரு நடவடிக்கையும் எடுக்கவில்லை.

2 இலட்சம் கோடி கொள்ளை போனதற்கே ஒரு ரியேக்ஷனும் காட்டாத அதிகாரிகள் உள்ள நாட்டில் இந்த இரண்டு கோடி மதிப்புள்ள மண்டபங்களுக்கா விசாரணை செய்ய போகிறார்கள்!!!! ஆனாலும் எனக்கு ஒரு கேள்வி இதே போன்ற ஒரு நிலை கிறித்துவ மடாலயங்களுக்கோ அல்லது இஸ்லாமி மசூதிகளுக்கோ ஏற்பட்டு இருந்தால் இந்த அரசு இதே நிலையை எடுக்குமா?

நம்மால் முடிந்த வரை இதற்காக விழிப்புணர்வை ஏற்படுத்தும் நோக்குடன் இந்த கட்டுரையை எழுதியுள்ளேன். இந்த கட்டுரையை தயவு செய்து உங்கள் நண்பர்களுக்கு அனுப்புங்கள். இதை download செய்து உங்கள் அலுவலக மக்களுக்கு அனுப்புங்கள். இதை அடிப்படையாக வைத்து நீங்கள் நேரடியாக தமிழக அரசிற்கு மின்னஞ்சல் அனுப்பலாம். சமூக வலைதளங்களில் பகிர்ந்து கொள்ளலாம். வெளிநாட்டு வாழ் தமிழர்கள் அறநிலை துறைக்கு ஆணையருக்கு, ஈரோடு மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் மற்றும் காவல் துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கும் தொலை பேசி மூலமாகவோ, FAX மூலமாகவோ, மின்னஞ்சல் மூலமாகவோ இது குறித்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்குமாறு விண்ணப்பம் செய்யலாம். ஆந்திராவை சேர்ந்த அமெரிக்கா வாழ் மக்கள் இது போன்ற முறையில் பல கோயில்களை காப்பாற்றியுள்ளனர். ஆதலாம் நாமும் இந்த முறை கடைபிடித்து நமது பாரம்பரிய அடையாளத்தை காப்போம்.

ஈரோடு மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் மின்னஞ்சல்:
Shri Dr. V K Shanmugam, I.A.S. Email ID: collrerd@nic.in & Ph no: +91 424 2266700

காவல் துறை உதவி ஆணையாளர்:
Thiru.S.Panneerselvam,I.P.S Erode SP, E mail ID: sperode@gmail.com, Ph no: 04242261100

இந்து சமய அறநிலை ஆணையர், சென்னை:
E mail ID: tn.endowments@gmail.com, Ph No: 044-28334817

(பின் குறிப்பு: உலகில் எந்த தொலை பேசி எண்ணை தேடினாலும் வலைதளத்தில் கிடைக்கும். ஆனால் இந்து சமய அறநிலை துறையின் எந்த ஒரு உயர் அதிகாரியின் பெயரோ, அலுவலக முகவரியோ அல்லது தொலைப்பேசி எண்ணோ உங்களுக்கு கிடைக்கவே கிடைக்காது)

Data on HR & CE land submitted

CHENNAI: Eight districts in the State have complied with a GO dated November 23, 2009, which directed the Principal Secretary/Commissioner of Survey and Settlement to send the compact disks (CDs) by scanning all the details in respect of the lands belonging to Hindu Religious Temples in the State, the Commissioner has informed the Madras High Court, recently.

Of the eight districts — Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Tiruppur, Trichy, Sivaganga, Tiruvarur and Tirunelveli — which had sent the CDs containing the details, the CDs submitted by the last two districts (Tiruvarur and Tirunelveli) had already been forwarded to the Assistant Commissioner, HR&CE.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/data-on-hr--ce-land-submitted/251523-60.html 

PIL against pass system for Meenakshi Tirukkalyanam

“Religion says all are equal before God, but HR and CE acts contrary to it”

A public interest litigation petition has been filed in the Madras High Court Bench here against the practice of issuing entry passes for the Meenakshi Tirukkalyanam to be held in the precincts of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple here on May 2.

An advocate, P. Sundaravadivel, had filed the petition alleging that the entry passes were circulated only among family members, relatives and friends of people working in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Police and Revenue Departments thereby depriving the benefit to the common man.

According to the petitioner, the annual event of conducting a divine marriage between Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar was the most important and famous festival of Madurai. Lakhs of devotees from far and near used to gather in the city during the day of marriage.

Almost every devotee of Goddess Meenakshi would want to have a direct glimpse of the Tirukkalyanam which was originally conducted in the Tirukkalyana Mandapam inside the temple.

It was shifted to the Aadi Veedhi in the recent times to accommodate more number of devotees.

“I state that all devotees of Meenakshi Amman were happy at that time (when the venue was shifted) with the hope that they will get a chance of fulfilling their life long dream of watching the Tirukkalyanam. But, shockingly things did not happen that way,” the petitioner said.

Stating that the Joint Commissioner of HR and CE department-cum-Executive Officer of the temple introduced a pass system for watching the event, the petitioner alleged that these passes were garnered only by people belonging to certain government departments and ruling party functionaries.

“All these people occupy the entire space on the temple premises and none of the general devotees could see the Tirukkalyanam. Apart from these, the families of thousands of policemen and temple employees are allowed freely even without passes to watch the Tirukkalyanam.

“Thus, only the families of the rich and the influential persons could watch the Tirukkalyanam every year. This year, the HR and CE Department has decided to provide air-conditioning facility to the people who come to watch the Tirukkalyanam with passes issued by the Executive Officer.

“While millions of devotees are longing to see the Tirukkalyanam at least once in their lifetime, the HR and CE Department is abruptly denying it under the guise of pass system… When religion says all are equal before God, the HR and CE Department acts contrary to it,” the petitioner's affidavit read.

Representations

He claimed to have sent representations to the HR and CE Commissioner, Collector, Corporation Commissioner and Police Commissioner on March 30 seeking to dispense with the pass system.

The Corporation Commissioner alone responded asking the petitioner to approach the temple's executive officer.

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Event conducted inside the temple was shifted to Aadi Veedhi to accommodate more devotees

Passes given to kin, friends of people working in HR & CE, police, revenue departments: petitioner

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article3344240.ece 

J&K govt to bring out ordinance for management of Temples

Jammu and Kashmir government is mulling promulgation of an ordinance for protection and management of temples in Kashmir Valley.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed the Revenue Department to prepare a note for Cabinet for promulgation of ordinance for protection and management of temples in the Valley.

“You should come up with a note on the subject as early as possible for the clearance of the Cabinet so that the same would be presented to the Governor for promulgation of the Ordinance accordingly,” he told the department while chairing the meeting of apex advisory committee for Kashmiri migrants here.

He said the Bill in this regard would be tabled in the next session of legislature in Srinagar subsequently.

Kashmiri Pandits have resorted to demonstrations and huger strikes during past over 6 months against the alleged illegal sale of temple properties and encroachments in Kashmir Valley and in support of setting up of temple and shrine properties trust in Jammu and Kashmir.

All Party Migrant Coordination committee (APMCC) led the campaign for the Temple Trust Board. Its chairman Vinood Pandit sat on a 10-day fast-unto-death last year.

Financial package for Kashmiri Pandits

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also directed authorities concerned to formulate a proposal for enhancement of financial assistance for constructing houses for Kashmiri Pandits returning to the Valley.

Chairing a meeting of the Apex Advisory Committee for Kashmiri migrants here, the Chief Minister directed the State’s Revenue and Rehabilitation department to undertake a series of measures for repatriation of Kashmiri Pandits.

“We know the return of migrants call for a good residential accommodation for them. Those who want to return should get suitable financial assistance to build their houses in the Valley,” he said.

Mr. Omar said the proposal would be discussed and cleared by the Cabinet and the issue taken up with the Centre accordingly.

The Chief Minister also directed the Revenue department to start a ‘Kashmir Darshan’ tour for migrant students, adding priority in the selection should be given to those visiting the Valley for the first time.

“This will help them interact with students and learn different aspects and significance of the Valley,” he said

Noting that the security scenario has positively changed in the region during last few years, he said the return of about 1,500 migrant youth to the Valley in search of jobs had further boosted confidence.

The Chief Minister directed officials to set in motion the process of creation of 3,000 additional posts for Kashmiri migrant students.

Speaking at the meeting, Commissioner Secretary, Revenue, B A Runiyal said those migrants who are registered under the relief category will continue to receive assistance for two years after their return to the Valley.

“Their school-going children will be entitled to a scholarship of Rs 750 every month. Migrants who wish to return and want to set up income generating units will be entitled for a cash assistance of Rs 5 lakh, of which Rs 2.50 lakh will be as subsidy and the rest recoverable in easy instalments,” he said.

Migrants will also be entitled to cash assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.50 lakh for re—cultivation on agriculture and horticulture respectively, said Runiyal.

“Those migrants who had loan outstanding as on January 1, 1990, when they were forced to leave the Valley at the height of militancy, will be entitled for waiver of interest,” he added.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article3332235.ece 

Court seeks details of temple lands

The Madras High Court has granted four months to the revenue authorities to collect all details relating to lands belonging to various temples in Tamil Nadu and hand them over in compact discs to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice M.Y.Eqbal and Justice T.S.Sivagnanam passed the order on a public interest litigation petition by the International Sri Vaishnava Dharma Samrakshana Society, represented by its president, Swamy Govinda Ramanujadasa, Nungambakkam, seeking a direction to the authorities to implement the G.O. of November 23, 2009. The petitioner said this would enable the authorities to defend the cases pending before the court. Nearly 4.78 lakh acres of lands belonged to temples in the State.

As per the G.O., the government had directed the Commissioner of Land Survey and Settlement to send the compact discs by scanning all the details of the temple lands. It also directed the Commissioner to take comprehensive efforts to collect all the details from the Archives Department and Collectorates concerned.

When the matter came up before Messrs.Justices Eqbal and Sivagnanam, the Commissioner filed a counter stating as per the directions in the G.O., all Collectors had been requested to send a detailed report in respect of the expenditure to be incurred, other requirements etc., for giving effect to the G.O. Complying with the directions, details of property in respect of eight districts – Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Tirupur, Tiruchirappalli, Sivaganga, Tiruvarur and Tirunelveli – had been received. Particulars with regard to Tiruvarur and Tirunelveli had already been sent to the Assistant Commissioner, HR and CE department. Reports from the other districts are awaited.

The matter will come up after four months for filing of status report by the authorities.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3348275.ece 

Angry mob drives away newly posted priests at Thiruvahindrapuram temple

A.V. RAGUNATHAN

Samprokshanam will be held as scheduled on April 25: Executive Officer

The move of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department to bring in two outside priests to replace senior Bhattacharyars of the renowned Sri Devanatha Swamy temple at Thiruvahindrapuram near here faced with stiff resistance and resulted in law and order problem.

The two priests from Sri Uppiliyappan Temple at Kumbakonam, namely Dwarakanatha Bhattacharyar (42) and Kannan Bhattacharyar (41) who have been temporarily drafted for duty in the place of their two senior counterparts Neelamegham Bhattacharyar (83) and his son Narasimha Bhattacharayar in the Thiruvahindrapuram temple, one of the 108 Divya Desams, had become the target of attack by the so-called local people on Thursday.

The two priests accompanied by Vijayaraghavan alias Kutti Kannan (42), who recites the Vedas in Sri Uppiliayppan Temple, came to Thiruvahindrapuram in the evening to take charge. However, even before they set foot inside the temple a group of people blocked their car at the entry point and unleashed violence.

Mr. Vijayaraghavan told The Hindu that he just accompanied the two Bhattacharyars to offer prayer at the Thiruvahindrapuram temple. When the mob damaged the front windshield of the brand new hired car he got baffled and got down to assess the situation.

But soon he was surrounded by scores of frenzied persons who started landing punches all over his body and somebody hit his head from behind. This forced Mr. Vijayaraghavan to take shelter in a nearby house to escape from the fury of the mob.

The two Bhattacharyars who were seated in the car told the driver to go to the Thiruvahindrapuram police station where they lodged the complaint. Mr. Dwarakanatha Bhattacharyar told this correspondent that they had come to Thiruvahindrapuram on the direction of the Assistant Commissioner of HR & CE Department J. Bharanidharan who is also the In-charge Assistant Commissioner of the Thiruvahindrapuram temple.

The official told them that since there were certain hurdles in performing pujas at the Thiruvahindrapuram temple, where the Samprokshanam was scheduled to take place on April 25, it would be appropriate for them to go there and take up the responsibility temporarily, until further orders.

Mr. Dwarakanatha Bhattacharayar said that he was not in the know of things as to what had been happening in the Thiruvahindrapuram temple. However, the Assistant Commissioner had given them an assurance that nothing untoward would happen as adequate protective measures were put in place.

However, Mr. Dwarakanatha Bhattacharyar said that they were taken by shock and surprise that they were virtually greeted with brickbats and choicest epithets, and of course with physical assault and threat. It made them to beat a hasty retreat.

He categorically said that it was never their intention to usurp the place of or to emerge as competitors to the already serving Bhattacharyars. It was only on the request of the HR & CE official that they had to act in an expeditious situation that they obliged.

Already they were too busy with Sri Uppiliyappan Temple and therefore they would not be able to take up any sort of assignment in the Thiruvahindrapuram temple.

On the basis of their complaint the police have arrested nine persons. A police contingent has been posted at the temple to maintain peace.

Two notices

Assistant Commissioner (HR & CE) J. Bharanidharan had issued a notice on August 18: retiring Neelamegha Bhattacharyar from the temple services because he had far exceeded the 60-year-age limit stipulated in the HR & CE Act.

In his place the Assistant Commissioner had appointed his son Narasimha Bhattacharyar to carry on the temple rituals. However, on April 19 the appointment of Narasimha Bhattacharyar was cancelled and he was placed under suspension on the pretext that he was facing certain (unexplained) charges.

Narasimha Bhattacharyar has also been directed to hand over all the valuables and property belonging to the temple and also other contributions made by the devotees to the Bhattacharyars who were posted in their place.

However, allaying fears over the performance of Samprokshanam Executive Officer K. Nagarajan categorically said that it would be conducted as per schedule on April 25.

He hinted that a detailed inquiry into the allegations against Narasimha Bhattacharyar would follow after the temple function.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article3338492.ece  

A hoary temple and an unholy priest

It's is one of the 108 holy shrines (Divya Desams) of Vaishnavites. It is here that the Vaishnavite seer Sri Vedantha Desikar sat on penance and obtained the blessings of Lord Hayagreevar. It's here that he came up with the hundreds of religious hymns and the spiritual treatises. It looks majestic and pristine with a flowing river (Gadilam) at the back and flanked by Hayagreevar hills on either side.

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We are talking about the Sri Devanathaswamy temple at  Thiruvanthipuram near Cuddalore, just a 4-hour drive from here. Alas, such a heritage-filled holy temple is now at the risk of losing all its glory, as it seems to have come under the vice-like grip of an unholy priest. Though falling under the ambit of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department, the temple seems to have become the private property of the Bhattar (temple priest) and his family. As a case in point to the disturbing state of affairs here, the locals draw our attention to the suspension of 'Veda Parayanam' (chanting of Vedas), a devotional de rigueur in temples as a prelude (and accompaniment) to the regular pujas. Both in the mornings and evenings, the Vedas are recited after scholars chanted 'Hari Om'. This practice, initiated by Sri Ramanuja himself, has been in vogue for several thousand years. However, in October 2011, the temple secretary, apparently under the advice of the temple priest, prohibited the chanting of 'Hari Om' and Vedas here. Interestingly, he had no such authority to issue such an order. Though spiritualists and the 'Veda Parayana Kainkarya Mirasu' appealed to the officials of the HR & CE at different levels, all pleas fell on deaf ears for almost five months. Finally they managed to bring the issue to the notice of Commissioner of the HR & CE department. The temple secretary was changed, but the 'ban' on reciting 'Hari Om' was not lifted and no action was taken on the temple priest. What is saddening in the whole episode is that there is no salary paid to those who recite vedas in the temple. They have dedicated their entire life for the service of Sri Devanatha Perumal. But the needless clamp down on them only proves that the situation is fast slipping into the territory of anarchy let loose by one man. Further, renovation works were said to be on for almost three years in the temple, which is set for Maha Samprokshanam on 25 April. Sadly, but for the Bhattar, no one knows what renovation was actually carried out. There was no committee to oversee the works, and the locals were not allowed to participate in the renovation activities. The temple priest issued advertisements in his own name in the media and collected funds. No proper account has been maintained. Again, the doors of the HR & CE department was knocked at by many, but again to no avail. The ones who protested the most against the total lack of transparency in the operations were the reciters of the veda. And it is no surprise that they were silenced by a totally arbitrary order.   Proper reciepts are given to devotees who donate jewels and  vasthrams in all temples under the control of the HR & CE department. Unfortunately here, no reciepts are given to the devotees, and even if one approaches the office seeking a reciept, the temple priest does not allow the jewels and vasthrams given by the devotee to be adorned on the Almighty. The performance of Thirumanjanam by devotees too is at the mercy of the priest here. Unlike other temples, there are no special days to perform the Thirumanjanams, and all is decided the temple priest. Interestingly, the temple priest has filed a case stating that the temple is his private property and obtained orders preventing the HR & CE department from keeping hundials inside the temple. However, the temple priest has put a private hundial near the main sanctum santorum, and appointed a person who can be seen urging people to make their contributions in that hundial. Sadly, the officials of HR & CE are maintaining a stoic silence over the issue. If the locals raise any objection over the activities of the temple priest, he stalemates their efforts by not performing any of the rituals and by not distributing the holy water and prasadams. With the samprokshanam round the corner, devotees want things to be set in order. The locals say poojas should be conducted and veda parayanam should begin with the chanting of 'Hari Om', as initiated by Sri Ramanuja. They are now looking up to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to intervene and help salvage a temple that seems to have fallen into wrong hands. http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=28186%20&%20section=6

NHAI to demolish 1300 year old Shiva Temple

Chaitra Krushna Pratiapada,Kaliyug Varsha 5114

The temple at Panaiyapuram that has been marked for demolition to facilitate NH expansion

Vikkiravandi (Tamilnadu) : A 1,300-year old Siva temple, celebrated in the verses of Saivite saint Tirugnana Sambandar and boasting of inscriptions belonging to the Chola kings, is facing demolition by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The Tirupuravar Panankateesvarar temple is situated in Panaiyapuram village, two km from Vikkiravandi in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. The Pennaiyar flows near Panaiyapuram. The temple is also called Paravaipuram.

The NHAI, which is widening the Vikkiravandi –Thanjavur National Highway 45C, over a distance of about 160 km, has painted big arrow marks in white on the compound wall of the temple and inside its premises, where the widened road will cut through.

The NHAI has placed stones outside the temple to signify the portions that will be lost to the highway's widening. If this plan goes through, the temple's sanctum sanctorum for Panankateesvarar, the adjacent shrine for the goddess Satyambikai and much of the temple premises including other shrines, will be demolished. This has shocked and angered about 4,000 Panaiyapuram villagers and residents of Pappanapattu, Mundiyambakkam, Kappiyampuliyur and Thuravi villages. They met the Villupuram District Collector, V. Sampath, and submitted a petitionto him.

Strong Stand

R.P. Pugazhendhi, former president of the Panaiyapuram panchayat, said: “We are spending sleepless nights. Almost the entire temple including the sanctum, the shrines for goddess Satyambikai, Ganesa and Muruga will be demolished. Only the flag-post and the shrine for Saneesvarar will remain. There is enough land on the west of the temple for the broadened highway to go through or a new alignment can be given from the National Highway 45. We will not allow even a single stone from the temple to be removed.”

R. Nagaswamy, former Director, Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department, said that the 1,300-year old temple was visited by the Tamil Savite saint Tirugnana Sambandar, who lived in the seventh century CE, and had sung verses celebrating the deity, a Sivalinga. The Sivalinga is called Panankateesvarar because the area abounds with palmyra trees.

The temple has a number of inscriptions belonging to Rajendra Chola I (regnal years 1012 CE to 1043 CE), his son, Rajendra Chola II, Adhi Rajendra, Kulotunga I, Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I and Vikrama Pandya among others.

Rajendra Chola's inscription called the deity Nethrodharaka Swami (meaning, the main deity will cure eye ailments). The inscription recorded the gift of land and money for worship and making offerings in the temple. It spoke about Rajendra Chola's conquest of Kadaram. (The present-day Kedda in Malaysia was called Kadaram and it belonged to Sri Vijaya kingdom). It revealed that the Chola emperor rebuilt the main temple between 1025 CE and 1040 CE, pointed out Dr. Nagaswamy.

“Another important aspect of the village is that it is also named Paravaipuram,” he said. Paravai was the consort of Tamil Saivite saint Sundarar, who lived in the eighth century CE. Paravai belonged to a family of dancing girls and she is worshipped even today, along with Sundarar, in Siva temples. Rajendra Chola I also had a personal assistant called Paravai, who was an ‘anukki.' This Paravai was named after Sundarar's consort. (Female personal assistants, who were trusted by the kings, were called anukki and anukkan were their male counterparts). Paravai built the Thyagaraja temple at Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu and covered the vimana with gold, said Dr. Nagaswamy .

Hounouring Paravai

To honour her, Rajendra Chola I made her sit next to him in his royal chariot and drove her in a procession on the four main streets around the Thyagaraja temple. The Chola emperor made two bronze images resembling her and placed them before the deity in the Tiruvarur temple's sanctum and worshipped them. “This is recorded in a long inscription in the Tiruvarur temple,” said Dr. Nagaswamy, a scholar in epigraphy. Rajendra Chola I re-built the Panaiyapuram temple in Paravai's honour, when she was alive and the town around the temple was named after her.

The temple has two inscriptions of Rajendra Chola II (regnal years 1052 to 1064 CE), both datable to 1058 CE. One of the inscriptions mentions his gift of paddy to “Paravai Easwaramudaiyar Mahadeva in the town of Paravaipuram in Panaiyur Nadu”, falling under the larger division called “Rajendra Chola Valanadu.”

The temple has an inscription of Adhi Rajendra, who ruled from 1068 to 1071 CE. This inscription, dated 1070 CE, records the gift of tax-free land to the temple by a merchants' guild of Paravaipuram to feed the pilgrims. There is a record of Kulotunga Chola I (regnal years 1070-1122 CE) on the gift of gold coins by a chieftain named Ponnambala Kizhan of Arumbakkam, near present-day Chennai, for lighting a perpetual lamp.

“An interesting point about the Panaiyapuram temple”, said Dr. Nagaswamy, “is that on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai every year, the sun rays fall on the Sivalinga enshrined in the sanctum and the idol of Satyambikai. The temple's orientation is so perfect that this happens and special pujas are offered.”

S. Ganesa Gurukkal, the temple priest, was emphatic that the villagers would take all steps needed to save the temple. “We went to Chennai and gave a petition to the NHAI officials,” he said.

When contacted, an NHAI official said, “We are trying to save the temple. We are trying to look at other options. The NHAI headquarters has been informed about the villagers' objections.”

Source : The Hindu

Temple committee members demand retrieval of land from encroachers

Women members cook ‘pongal' on the middle of the road

Members of the Committee for the Retrieval of Periya Mariamman Temple Land cooking pongal on the Thiruvenkatasamy street in Erode on Thursday.—PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN

Members of the Committee for the Retrieval of Periya Mariamman Temple Land cooked ‘pongal' (sweet rice) on the middle of the road here on Thursday urging the State government to initiate immediate efforts to retrieve the lands belonging to the temple from encroachers.

A number of women members set up temporary ovens on the Thiruvenkatasamy Street and cooked the sweet rice. They wanted the government to remove the encroachments on the lands belonging to the Periya Mariamman temple.

The committee members also wanted the government to implement the 80-feet-road project to ease the traffic congestion in the town. If implemented, it would establish better road connectivity between the Erode Railway Junction and Brough road, they pointed out.

Earlier, the members took out a procession, which was flagged off on the Eshwaran Temple premises. Committee president Chandrasekar led the procession. Police had made heavy security arrangements. Superintendent of Police S. Paner Selvam and senior officials monitored the arrangements.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article3286257.ece