Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 27: Expressing deep anguish at the intention expressed by the state government to acquire administration of Gokarna Lord Mahabaleshwara temple from the Math, Swamiji of Sri Ramachandrapur Math, Sri Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji, reminded the government that the temple was not entrusted to the Math  as some sort of tips, but only towards correction of earlier mistakes.

"Gokarna temple was administered by our Math in the past. The government mistakenly included it in the temples acquired by the government while issuing notification. After finding that a mistake had been committed, the temple was vested to the Math in 2008. Muzrai commissioner said that the Math would be handed back. The Math had not asked for it," he stated.

He said that the Math had ploughed back the entire revenue generated from the temple for its development, duly adding that the Math had spent its own resources too for temple development. "When the Math took over,  there was a huge garbage dump inside the temple, and when it rained, water from the drain flowed over the idol of the presiding deity, Atmalingam. Dalits and Veerashaiva Swamijis were not allowed to touch the Atmalingam. There was fee for even to have the darshan of the Lord. Now there is no fee for having the darshan, Dalits are allowed into the temple, Veerashaiva Swamijis are allowed to touch the Atmalingam, transparent administration and accounting of of ISO standards has been maintained, and irregularities have been completely stopped. Therefore, the government should not be driven by extraneous considerations in taking over the temple," he urged.

The Swamiji recollected that when the government was administering the temple, the government had not been getting any revenue out of it as claimed, and money collected for different pujas went to unscrupulous people. "A small group of priests was looting the devotees. We have regulated all these things," he claimed.

Speaking to media persons at the city branch of the Math at Girinagar here on Monday, the Swamiji noted that the government had verbally expressed its intention to take back the temple. "We learn that the government has also set into motion proesses in this direction. The people are against this decision. We have strong objection to this move of the government. If the government goes ahead with the acquisition of the temple, the Math will fight it out in the court," he clarified.

Retired judge, Kukkaje Ramakrishna Bhat, and advocate, Govindraj, were present at the press conference.