Sri Ranganatha temple of Srirangam has been in the news for wrong reasons
these days. Even before the controversy around the visit
of Christian nuns to the temple and alleged reading of the Bible in the
1000-pillared hall had died down, another controversy had come in the open with
one of the temple priests expressing in public a series of allegations against
the government official in charge of the temple. These allegations are of
serious nature as they pertain to interference in temple procedures that have
been in vogue as per agama rules.
The officer facing the allegations had already been admonished
by the Madras High court in February 2017 for his high-handedness in
dealing with the religious activities of the temple. The court even remarked
that the officer had attitude-problem. We are at a loss to understand how he is
able to continue in his work and continue to cause damage to the tradition of
rituals of the temple.
The temple priests are the custodians of the temple tradition, not the
government appointed officers. In the past (known from epigraphic records) the
temple priests were reprimanded even for the smallest transgression, though
unintended, in the tradition. The society behaved like a watch-dog and ensured
that temple traditions were maintained well. But today the temple priests are not
allowed to do their duty as age old traditions are being trampled by those in
power. The society is mute and insensitive; as a result the priests are forced
to come out of the door step of the temple to take their fights to the street
with the sole aim of retaining
the tradition. The allegations are serious such as obstructing the performance of regular poojas, driving a
wedge between Brahmins and non-Brahmins, threatening the priests who don’t accept
the dictates of the officer and causing dis-unity among the priests by pitting
one against the other.
Certainly all these speak of not just an attitude problem of the
officer in question but a sick mind steeped in Dravidian propaganda against
temples and Brahmins. It is not known what judgement was given by the High
court in the case of this official in 2017 or whether the judgement is still pending.
But this kind of repeated occurrences happening in most temples including
Tirumala has only one solution – remove government control over the temples and
bring in religious mutts affiliated to the temple or localised around the
temple to oversee the governance.
It was really heart breaking to hear the speech by the priest Sri Parasara Badrinarayan Bhattar of
Kooratthazhwan lineage pouring out his anguish on the way the Viswarupa pooja
is obstructed and the food offerings of different times being offered at a
single time to the Lord. It seems tough times have returned to daunt the priests
and the devotees as well like how it was during the Muslim aggression of the temple.
With the government and the court not doing anything worthy enough to stop
this menace, the devotees are left with the only option of spreading awareness
among the larger populace of the Hindu community. This blog-post is such an
attempt by bringing out the transcript of the speech of the Bhattar in English
to tell the people outside what is ailing the Sri Rangam temple. The audio
version of this speech has been doing rounds for the couple of days and a
translation of the speech in English has been sent by an anguished devotee Ms
Shanti Narayanan for publishing. Ms Narayanan has earlier presented a paper in Swadeshi
Indology-3 conference on how Acharya Ramanuja and his philosophy had been mis-presented
by the DMK patriarch in his tele-serial on the Acharya.
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Transcript of the speech by Sri Parasara Badrinarayan Bhattar of Sri
Rangam in a protest meeting organised in the 2nd week of June 2018:
“Vanakkam to those of
you here who believe ‘Thiruvarangan (Ranganatha Swamy) is for us and we are for Thiruvarangan’ and have therefore gathered here
for this protest meeting – ‘Let us Protect Sri Rangam, Preserve its Sanctity’.
We are those sthalathars, who have the distinction of gaining publicity for
free, overnight in Srirangam owing to a poster. In that poster, if a small
change had been made, it would have changed from ‘Kandikkirom’ to ‘Kandukkurom’
Periya Perumal (Kandikkirom means criticising and Kandukkurom means ‘Taking
care of’). If this had happened, there would be no need for this gathering. The
severe struggles and protests that have been happening behind scenes at the
temple for the last 3 years would not have come out in the open, as is
happening today. And the reason for this is the actions
and behaviour of an executive of the temple. Time has come to throw
light on our struggle against this official.
What exactly
is the issue I am referring to, at Sri Rangam?
The temple executive
authority is making a show that everything is working smoothly within the
temple. However, nothing could be farther from truth. There have been gross
violations occurring in the temple. The Aaru Kaala Pooja (pooja / services
offered to the Diety at six times specified in the agamas) that ought to be
offered to Sri Rangan are not being offered as per the
scriptures and methods prescribed by Acharyas of yore, including Ramanuja
Acharya.
One of the most
important poojas - the Viswaroopa Pooja is
offered at the early hours of the day. As part of this Pooja, a cow is made to
enter and stand in the line of vision of the diety and holy water is brought on
the temple elephant and thus the Lord Sri Rangan (Arangathamma) is woken up
from his sleep to the accompaniment of music (mangala vaadyam) played in the
veena. These procedures have been conceived and organised with great
forethought by purva acharyas and institutionalised mainly by Ramanuja Acharya
during his life time. 3 years before this day, it would have been very easy to
tell when and what pooja / procession was going to happen at SriRangam. Such is
the clockwork precision of procedures laid down by Ramanujar. Unfortunately, in
the last three years, it has been impossible for us (including families like
mine who stay close to the temple) to know when the poojas would be held or if Viswarupa poojas would be held at all on any
particular day.
What is the
reason for such a state of affairs?
The reason behind such
gross disregard for the ageless procedures laid down by our acharyas, is the whims and fancies of the executive official at
the temple at Sri Rangam. When asked about such irregularities, the official nonchalantly
answers that it is his wish and command to either allow the conduct of the
Pooja or disallow/cancel it and that nobody should dare question him. It is
firmly believed and understood that the rest of 107 divya desa Lords visit Sri
Rangan, the Raja of Rangam at Viswarupa pooja. Such is the importance of this
daily pooja.
Not stopping with this
transgression, the temple executive commanded the priests to offer all naivedyam (prasadam that is offered to the diety
at different times during the day) all at once in the early hours of dawn.
Such an act is impermissible under the agama scriptures.
The said executive also
has been unilateral in his decisions on the timings of
purapaadu (procession). The diety, Namperumal’s procession timings were
known for its clockwork precision. Devotees often remark that one can set one’s
watch, going by Namperumal’s procession. Such was the accuracy and exactness of
procedures laid down by Swami Ramanuja. For over 1000 years, these rules have
been strictly adhered to, come rain or shine. Since last three years, one
individual has taken it upon himself to unilaterally
decide on such sacred dictates.
When
reasoned with, how did the official respond?
Other officials are
scared to oppose this executive. The executive seems fearless, even seemingly
uncaring about incuring the wrath of Sri Rangan. When, we sthalathaars
questioned him, he retorted saying that if we continue
to question such infractions, he would put an end to the mariyadai (special
theertham and other such honours) bestowed by Lord Rangan on us. He did
not stop with mere threats. He conducted meetings to that end and had it
decided that he would stop such honours. People do not know the amount of suffering and humiliation that we, the families and
representatives of acharyas had to undergo in the past few years. There
have been retaliations because we objected to changing agama rituals. He would
get back at us by changing rules at his will,
with gross disregard for ancient agama rules, methods and procedures and rules
that were crafted with great care and forethought by the likes of Ramanujar and
followed strictly since atleast 1000 years. We responded with forbearance by
giving a detailed 100-page document in which the details of procedures and
rules to be followed with respect to Sri Rangam temple and how it ought to be
followed as per the instructions of purva acharyas such as Ramanuja Swamy. But
the executive always reverted with threats of
disempowering us of our honours as ‘sthalathaars’ or ‘theerthakaarars’.
Then the speaker who is
a direct descendant of Sri Parasara Bhattar of Koorathazhwan lineage,
challenges the executive whether he is ready to serve Lord Ranganatha, by giving
up the car, allowances and numerous monetary benefits he is receiving in the
name of Lord Rangantha. On the other hand ‘sthalathaars’ like himself are serving
God without any gains. They are being given a meagre sum of 1 rupee 35 paise every quarter in a year,
which he says has been
stopped since last three years. This underlines the important role, the
sthalathaars and theerthakaarars play in the temple, out of devotion to Sri Rangan, they render kainkaryam
(service) rather than view their duties as a job.
The speaker shares that
though he studied to qualify as a chartered accountant and lawyer, his purpose
in life (as has been moulded and reinforced by his family) has always been to
be of service (to offer kainkaryam) to Sri Ranganatha perumal. That has been
their family’s priority. Such families have been dedicated in offering service
to the Sri Ranganatha. The executive is threatening such people for they
question his decisions for the welfare of the perumal. The executive refuses to
answer why he changes important rituals and procedures
at his will. This happened even on important occasions such as Sri
Jayanthi (Krishna’s birth anniversary). There are a lot of people who have been
silenced by him by giving them special favours.
This has been the strategy used by the executive for managing opposition
successfully.
What is at
stake at Sri Rangam?
The management of the
Sri Rangam, as organized by Ramanuja Acharya is such a brilliant system that it
is inclusive and cohesive in its approach. It includes Brahmins and
Non-Brahmins equally in all kainkaryam, clearly specified in terms of roles and
responsibility. However, the executive is trying to
damage such an inclusive fabric of the temple management by highlighting
distinctions between communities. The executive is grossly misusing his
powers as a gazetted officer. The devotees have not been spared in this display
of power. When devotees flock to have darshan of NamPerumal (utsavar diety)
during purapaadu (procession), they are stopped and
allowed only if they agree to pay 250 rupees as fee. The Sri Rangam lord
delights in giving darshan as a Raja to his devotees who flock in big numbers
to him. However, now that has been stemmed and people do not have easy access
for darshan of their favourite lord. The executive has not understood the
essence behind the popular verse – ‘Aranga nagar vazha, Adiyaargal
vazha’ (Long live Sri Rangam, Long live its devotees).
The popular ‘Gadya
Trayam’ recital on the holy Panguni Uthiram day is a special occasion to pray
and request for moksham from Namperumal. However, with the executive
machinations, it seems as if one would attain moksham before being allowed to
the Gadya Trayam recital. It has been made very
difficult for devotees to gain access to such occasions, thanks to the misuse
of powers by the said authority.
The speaker talks about
the need for public outcry and questioning of such
gross violations by temple authorities. He reports that they have
submitted over hundreds of letters to the temple officers over such violations,
approached commissioner, chief secretary, ministers. However, the executive
continues his unilateral act unquestioned.
There are 55
upa-sannidhis in SriRangam temple. There are representatives from ancient
families, responsible for these sannidhis. They hold the rights over these
places of worship as well. The executive hold these representatives
in his sway and constantly bullies over them to hand over the keys to the
sannidhis. This was unheard of 3 years ago. One key example is the Mettu Azhagiya Singar sannidhi
whose keys were taken over in this manner. The government official is behaving
out of tune with what the constitution of India grants each citizen – their
rights. He is riding roughshod over people’s rights, unbehooving of a
government official. The official acts differently in front of important people
like Venu Srinivasan who is the chairman, board of trustees, SriRangam and
reverts to his original behaviour, the very next day. He refused to allow
Viswaroopa darshan on the following day, even though he agreed to it in the
meeting.
Conclusion
Ramanujar’s divya aagknya
(divine command) is not being followed in the present day, thanks to the
mischievous ways of the temple executive official. “This is to be treated very
seriously by all devotees of Sri Rangan and we have to take sincere steps to
resolve the current state of affairs in SriRangam temple. Let us work towards
preserving the sanctity and glory of Sri Rangan’s abode”, concludes the
speaker.
