Supreme Court says Court can’t pass orders on how to perform rituals in temples
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a petition challenging an Andhra Pradesh High Court order which had rejected the plea of a devotee to look into irregularities in pooja and archana at the Venkateswara Swami Vaari Temple at Tirupati.
The Supreme Court said the constitutional court can’t interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the temple, and declined to issue any order on a petition alleging irregularities in certain rituals of Tirupati Balaji temple.
The Court added that any deviation from tradition is a question of fact which the trial court can look into by appreciating the evidence before it. It went on to state,
A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said constitutional courts can’t spell out how rituals (‘puja’ in a temple) should be performed, how coconut should be broken, how a garland should be put on a deity, etc.
The bench also added that these issues cannot be decided in a writ petition.
Srivari Dadaa, petitioner-in-person, submitted that it is a public temple. Dadda is a devotee of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy and he has alleged irregularities in the conduct of ‘sevas‘ and rituals at the Tirupati Temple.
The relief sought by the petitioner is in the nature of interfering in the day-to-day affairs of the temple, the bench noted. It further added that this cannot be looked into by a constitutional court and any deviation from tradition is a question of fact, which the trial court can look into by appreciating the evidence.
The bench responded: “How will courts interfere in this…how to conduct rituals?”
The court asked for a responce to the petitioner’s grievances from the temple administration. The court said that if there is still a grievance on specified aspects, the petitioner can approach the appropriate forum.
Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had dismissed the PIL filed by Srivari Dadaa on the same issue and had held that the procedure of conducting rituals is the exclusive domain of the Devasthanams and it cannot become a matter of adjudication unless it impacts secular or civil rights of others.
TTD respond to SPL filed in SC
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has responded to the SPL filed in the Supreme Court by a devotee that Archakas perform the rituals and seva to Lord Venkateshwara strictly in accordance with Vaikhanasa Agama Sastra and under the supervision of Tirumala Pedda Jeeyar Swamy and Chinna Jeeyar Swamy.
In an affidavit filed through advocate Satya Sabharwal, the TTD Executive Officer Jawahar Reddy said that the temple has perfect checks and balances by Bhagavat Sri Ramanujacharya. He ensures the sevas, rituals, and utsavams are conducted strictly in accordance with the Vaikhanasa Agama Sastra.
“The rituals introduced by Bhagavat Sri Ramanujacharya in Tirumala are innumerable. He entrusted the divine responsibility of performing all rituals as per the tenets of Vaikhanasa Agama to Jeeyars and thus the Pedda Jeeyar and Chinna Jeeyar mutts were established in Tirumala. Though many changes have been introduced in the temple activities as time passed, the principal tenets, sevas, rituals, and regulations brought about by Ramanujacharya are continuing today in Tirumala without any deviation even after a lapse of 1,000 years”, a temple official said.
[With Inputs from IANS]
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