The Supreme Court on Wednesday criticized the administration of the Sri Krishna temple in Kerala’s Guruvayur for its decision not to perform ‘Udayasthan Puja’ on Guruvayur Ekadashi day (December 11) citing the old ‘Udayasthan Puja’ crowd management and wondered how it could take such a decision.
A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Rajesh Bindal also questioned the ‘Tantri’ (head priest) for agreeing to change the rituals when he himself had admitted in a news report published in 1996 that the rituals of the Guruvayur temple were not regulated by anyone. Except the Vedic philosopher Adi Shankaracharya himself and no deviation is acceptable in that process.
However, the bench expressed regret that it could not do anything this time as the hearing would be held on the day of Ekadashi and the puja had to start from Tuesday evening.
The court said that the temple’s website itself mentioned the importance of worship and directed the management to follow it carefully.
Advocate A Karthik along with senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan on Tuesday morning urged the bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna to hold an urgent hearing keeping in mind the fact that the ritual had to start from evening, but the Chief Justice was unable to take it up. On the same day, however, he assured to prepare a list for hearing on Wednesday.
After the Kerala High Court dismissed their petition, the appellants, a family with priestly rights in the temple, approached the Supreme Court.
On Wednesday, Vaidyanathan, appearing with senior advocates Guru Krishna Kumar and K Parameshar, told a bench headed by Justice Maheshwari that the ancient tradition of the temple had been violated.
He said that it is the responsibility of the temple administration to preserve the tradition and said that the chief priest alone cannot decide not to worship.
Justice Maheshwari referred to the order of the Kerala High Court in which this is on record
During the debate, the learned counsel for the petitioner and the respective counsel for the side and the opposition claimed that there is a religious practice in the temple to increase the divinity of the deity who is worshiped at Udayasthan on the day of Vrischikam Ekadashi. time immemorial On the day of Vrischikam Ekadashi, it is the prerogative of the deity to worship him by performing Udayasthan Puja by Othikas.”
Pointing out that both sides have submitted this to the High Court, Justice Maheshwari said that worship is the right of the deity.
Justice Maheshwari expressed his surprise as to how Guruvayur Devaswom could change the old tradition with the consent of Thatri to attract a large crowd of devotees.
“How can culture change on that ground? What should be done to the deity should be done,’ he said.
The court inquired that if any religious practice is suspected in the temple, it is decided after the astrological condition known as ‘Ashtamangalyaprasnam’ and before deciding not to do ‘Udayasthan Puja’, the same was done.
The temple administration took the stand that “there was no deviation from any custom… allegedly” and said it was the result of a family feud between family members who had priestly authority in the temple.