Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Apr 19: Administrative officer of Kateel Goddess Durgaparameshwari Temple, Rohini Sindhuri Dasari, registered a complaint in Bajpe police station on Monday April 18 against the temple priests. The complaint, filed through the temple manager, accused the priests of obstructing her from discharging government duties.

On Monday morning, Sindhuri had visited the temple and orally instructed the priests not to dispense holy water (Teertha) at Teertha Mantapa of the temple, and install the donation box of the temple there. But the priests of the temple refused to oblige, saying that it is customary for the priests of coastal Karnataka to give Teertha to devotees at the Teertha Mantapa of the temple. They said this procedure has been handed down through generations.

When Sindhuri directed the policemen to stop the process of distributing Teertha and Prasadam from Teertha Mantapa, the policemen said they were there just to provide protection to her. They instead, suggested her to use the services of the temple staff. After temple employees too refused to oblige, Sindhuri complained to Bajpe police station, saying that the priests of Kateel temple had obstructed discharge of government duty. It is gathered that she took back the complaint on Monday evening, and instead, filed a fresh complaint through the temple manager.

The priests resented interference in religious rituals and things which are related with the sentiments of the devotees. They said that the administrative officer was not right in pressing ahead with her decision. They said that if the donation box is installed at the Teertha Mantap, conducting of Nitya Bali procedure in the temple will be affected. They also wanted written order of the deputy commissioner to stop dispensing Teertha from Teertha Mantap, and expressed their unwillingness to obey oral order.

The priests filed a counter complaint in Bajpe police station, alleging that the temple administrative officer had visited the temple on Monday morning, and obstructed them from performing their routine puja procedures.