Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Apr 19: The rumours had been running thick and thin since a few months, that five temples, most of them located in Coastal Karnataka, were about to be handed over back to the private managements, on the lines of Gokarna Lord Mahabaleshwara temple. It is learnt, the Chief Minister during the concluding stages of the proposal, decided to play it safe, by temporarily putting off such an initiative.

It is learnt, that 40 temples, backed by some entities and people in powerful positions, had been pleading for releasing themselves from the control of the state muzrai department.  Most of these requests were from the twin-districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. The revenue department had also given its nod for five such proposals. These temples were Yediyur, Udupi, Anegudde, Ambalpady and Ganagapur temple in Gulbarga district. Some people had expressed their dissent at the proposal to hand over the temple managements back to private parties, in respect of Ambalpady temple in Udupi, and Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara temple in Kunigal taluk of Tumkur district.

The Chief Minister, bitten by criticism and court cases in respect of his earlier decision on Gokarna temple, is learnt to have asked the concerned to hold back the files for the time being. Encouraged by the rumours about the government’s soft stance on denotification, some individuals too have been trying to get hold of some shrines and choultries, the control of which had been taken over by the government in the past, on the plea that their ancestors had established them.

The state government is also unable to come to a definite conclusion as to whether it should bring Mutts under the ambit of the proposed Karnataka Public Trust Act.  It may be noted that the Karnataka Hindu Charitable Endowment Act 1997, bringing scores of additional temples within its scope, famous among them being the eight Mutts of Udupi,  had later been struck down by the High Court. An exhaustive law to replace it is yet to be enacted.