demolition of the Shiva sannidhi (sanctum sanctorum) of the 1,300-year-old Azhagia Nambiyar Perumal temple in Thirukurankudi (Tirunelveli district).

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KANCHI SEERS IN TROUBLE

Verify plaint against Kanchi seer: court

 

By Swati Das/TNN

 

Chennai: Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham senior pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi is in for

more trouble as the Madras High Court on Thursday directed that a complaint

against him be verified and a case registered. This also portends trouble for

Tamil Nadu industrialist Venu Srinivasan. Justice K.P. Sivasubramaniam, based on

a petition by the secretary of the Divyadesa Parambariya Padagappu Peravai

(Enlightened-lands Traditional Protection Forum) Krishnamachari, directed the

Additional Advocate General A.L. Somayaji to verify if a complaint had been made

in respect of the demolition of the Shiva sannidhi (sanctum sanctorum) of the

1,300-year-old Azhagia Nambiyar Perumal temple in Thirukurankudi (Tirunelveli

district). He directed that the court be informed by April 25 whether the

complaint was registered by police and a copy submitted.

 

Krishnamachari, in his petition, alleged that the 'sannidhi' was demolished in

June 2004 on the pretext of renovation and when he tried to make a police

complaint immediately, the Thirukurankudi inspector refused to accept it. He

therefore sought direction from the court. Though Somayaji argued that there was

a related case pending in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court and that he

was not aware of the complaint, Justice Sivasubramaniam observed that it was bad

that a complaint was not received by the police. The case is not new, as the

seer is already the prime accused in the 'Thirukottiyur' Madavan assault case

(third case), in which he had secured anticipatory bail. Madhavan, a Vaishnavite

activist, was assaulted in Chennai in August 2004, for opposing the shifting of

the sannidhi of this temple. According to Krishnamachari's petition, not only

the Sankaracharya and Srinivasan, but also eight others have been named as

respondents. They include the Tamil Nadu Home Secretary, the Tirunelveli

Superintendent of Police, Thirukurankudi police inspector, Hindu Religious and

Charitable Endowment department, Srinivasa Charitable Trust, Thirukurankudi

Jeyar Mutt, Nanguneri Vaanamalai Mutt and a Kerala astrologer Unnikrishan

Paniker. The ancient temple, Krishnamachari said, was sanctified by Azhavars

(Vaishnavites) and it had three sannidhis, including one each of Vishnu and

Siva. He alleged that without the permission of the state HR & CE department the

Shiva sannidhi was demolished in June last year. This was, however, done as

instructed by the Kanchi Acharya and the two other Jeyars mentioned as

respondents.