Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Feb 15: It may be recalled that on behalf of famous pilgrimage centre of Karnataka, Kukke Lord Subrahmanya temple, suit has been filed against Samputa Narasimha Swamy temple, accusing the Math of conducting procedures and using the name of the temple which it is not authorized to, and thus affecting the income of the temple. These two entities have locked horns over certain issues over the last some years.

Kukke Subrahmanya temple ranks first among muzrai temples in Karnataka with an annual income of Rs 96 crore.

In a fresh initiative, Uday Prakash Moolya, high court advocate, who represents Samputa Narasimha Swamy temple at Subrahmanya, has served notices on the government and department of religious endowments, asking them to hand over management of Lord Subrhamanya temple to the Math.

The said notice was served on February 11. The advocate said that his client is involved with litigation with Subrahmnya temple. The Math trustees used to manage the temple, it is said. The Math said it had filed suit in the court in the past. In the past, the Math and its administrator were exercising control over Subrahmanya Math and this right was to be inherited by the Math. The government too had given the right to manage the temple to the Math. During the terms of the previous spiritual heads of this Math, the Math had complete say in all the religious and administrative issues of the Math, the advocate has claimed.

In course of time, the government brought some laws and made some changes, and some false information was provided to the court relating to the temple administration. Therefore, the Math lost grip over the temple. Palmyra records and copper edicts and inscriptions prove that the Math and the temple had close relationship. On the basis of these records, the Math has absolute right over the idol of the presiding deity of Lord Subrahmanya temple, palanquin, Garuda kambha, puja and other procedures, temple funds, ornaments, properties etc. These items should be handed over to the Math administration within a month failing which the court will be approached for further legal steps under the provisions of Hindu Religious Endowment rules, the advocate stated in the notice.

When approached, president of Kukke Subrahmanya temple managing committee, Nityananda Mundody, said that the notice has been issued to the government and endowment commissioner, and a copy of the same has been received by the temple. He said he will study the same and make his response known soon.