The Dharmik fight of Lord Chilkur Balaji Deity for Constitutional rights of all Hindu Deities

The Dharmik representation has miraculously secured wide support

Chilkur Balaji Deity in response to a supreme sacrifice on the bell of Alampur temple in 2001 (Now in Telangana State) made His temple the ground zero for the movement against the draconian 30/87 AP Endowments Act popularly called Chilkur Thirugubatu (Chilkur Fightback). This draconian 30/87 Act was responsible for virtual closure of many low-income temples and deprival of livelihood of traditional families dependent on temple service was eventually amended in 2008 and partially implemented, the full implementation is a matter pending in Supreme Court through Swami Dayananda Saraswati Hindu Temple Freedom petition.

When the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) model was touted as a success for secular state control of Hindu temples justifying the draconian 30/87 Act Chilkur Balaji Deity made His temple a model for an alternative form of governance which removed inequality among devotees in the form of separate Queues for VIP, Moneyed and Poor devotees. The Deity has shown that it is possible to run a temple giving priority to increasing devotion in devotees not income from them without Hundi and Arthija Sevas. This Chilkur system of worship implemented from Dec 8th 2001 so inspired late Shri PVRK Prasad who recommended to the government to issue a GO mandating its protection and continuation forever as head of the committee formed as per Supreme Court orders also recommended (as part of another committee) to reform the system in Tirumala on the same lines as Chilkur Balaji Temple. Even though the revolutionary recommendation of late Shri PVRK Prasad is as yet unimplemented in Tirumala temple Lord Chilkur Balaji Deity has effectively challenged the prevailing view that Hindu temples are better off in the hands of the secular state. The success of this model is now before the Supreme Court in the pending Swami Dayananda Saraswati Hindu Temple Freedom case.

The observation of late eminent Jurist Nani Palkhivala in a different context has been quoted in the representation on behalf of the Deity dated July 18th.

Lord Chilkur Balaji Deity is now embarked on leading a different movement Chilkur Balaji Hindu Deity Rights Protection Movement. This movement was born when the Supreme Court in the Sept 28th Sabarimala Judgement observed that Hindu Deities have no Constitutional rights. Lord Chilkur Balaji Deity in whose temple the number of Lord Ayyappa devotees had prayed for the restoration of Hindu Deity Rights taken away by the SC order, made His temple the ground zero for a sustained campaign on the Hindu Deity Rights issue. The temple was used to create awareness on this important issue to visiting devotees so that they are educated on the new battleground i.e Supreme Court, Public Interest Litigation (PIL) process which has become a path to attack ancient temple traditions ex Sabarimala. Even recently in the case of stopping Ratha Yatra of Lord Puri Jagannath Deity. In March 2019 when Shri Padmanabha Swamy temple case reached the final hearing stage the Deity has ensured through His devotees that strong defense in the form of Travancore documents is placed before Supreme Court through the arguing counsel.

When SC Nine Judge Bench was constituted to take up the questions of law referred to by the Sabarimala Judgement Review Bench, Lord Chilkur Balaji Deity even filed an impleading application before the Court. It is unfortunate that the Deity’s petition was rejected on Feb 10th 2020 by the SC Nine Judge Bench which was an adharmic act in the opinion of Retd Justices of SC and many eminent legal luminaries as in a matter that deeply concerns the rights of Hindu Deities a Hindu Deity impleading on behalf of all Deities should have been allowed. It is a matter of history now that post Feb 10th dismissal of Lord Chilkur Balaji Deity petition the SC Nine Judge Bench which wanted to complete hearings at jet speed and also deliver judgement has so far not had a single sitting of consequence.

Lord Chilkur Balaji Deity post dismissal of His petition on behalf of all Deities has now embarked on a new innovative path of approaching His Excellency President for justice as per principles of Dharma. The observation of late eminent Jurist Nani Palkhivala in a different context has been quoted in the representation on behalf of the Deity dated July 18th.

The matter is left to the President’s sense of public decency and honour. The Constitution is silent on the point, but in our Constitution what is left unsaid is often more important than what is said. The President has not only to act impartially but he has to act nobly. He represents the nation’s dharma. He is the keeper of the country’s conscience. As the first citizen of the country, he has to make the decision with buddhi – a decision that no computer can ever make. We are faced with the stark alternative of either dharma in public life or the twilight of Indian democracy.

It is widely believed as expressed in the editorials of VAK (Voice of Temples) from Chilkur Balaji temple that the above promise is what secured the second term for the Hon’ble Prime Minister through the grace of Hindu Deities.

The Deity on the basis of the findings of fact in Lord Shri Padmanabha Swamy Ruler Citizen Deity case judgement delivered on July 13th, which was facilitated by letters to His Excellency President dated June 27th and 28th along with chanting of His Nama “OM Vashat Karaya Namaha” when there was inordinate delay of 14 months post judgement being reserved, has now approached the President through July 18th letter to recognize Art 26 Rights of Lord Shri Padmanabha Swamy Deity. It is believed that in response to the chanting of His name “OM Vashat Karaya Namaha” Lord Chilkur Balaji Deity Himself appeared in His “Koorma Avatara” form of a tortoise to secure support to His 18th July Dharmik representation to the President.

The Dharmik July 18th representation has miraculously secured wide support of Social Justice Organizations, Devotee MP, Ancient Mathas, Acharya Purushas, eminent devotees and Organizations working for Temples Protection. The support is slowly gaining further momentum with a devotee of the temple also creating a change.org petition for support and many more in the above categories expressing their support.

One of the important reasons the representation of Lord Chilkur Balaji Deity on behalf of Lord Shri Padmanabha Swamy Deity for His Article 26 rights and through this rights for all Hindu Deities is getting such wide support is highlighted by the Social Justice Organizations in their letter of support and echoed in all representations an example of which is as below:

The representation support letters itself has in its subject given below:

It is thus interesting that an act of Dharma by Lord Shri Padmanabha Swamy Ruler Citizen Deity the very embodiment of Dharma in issuing the historic Temple Entry Proclamation is today securing support for Article 26 rights of Lord Shri Padmanabha Swamy Deity and through this for all Hindu Deities.

Shri I.Y.R. Krishna Rao Retd IAS and Retd Chief Secretary of AP a devotee of Lord Chilkur Balaji who had occasion to peruse many letters of support in his letter of support to the President has even given a draft gazette notification where the above aspect of Temple Entry Proclamation is prominently mentioned. In his letter, Shri I.Y.R. Krishna Rao has echoed the view of ancient Ahobila Matha that the July 13th Supreme Court judgement presents a golden opportunity for the Union Government to implement the promise on Hindu Deity Rights protection made by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi Ji on April 18, 2019, to representatives of Sabarimala Deity. It is widely believed as expressed in the editorials of VAK (Voice of Temples) from Chilkur Balaji temple that the above promise is what secured the second term for the Hon’ble Prime Minister through the grace of Hindu Deities and gave the historic opportunity to perform the Bhoomi Puja of Lord Shri Rama temple at Ayodhya on Aug 5, 2020, in a ritual that coincidentally was initiated 108 days before on April 18, 2020.

It is now to be seen how “OM Vashat Karaya Namaha” ( Lord Chilkur Balaji Deity) ensures the delivery of such a historic gazette notification that not only secures rights of Lord Shri Padmanabha Swamy Ruler Citizen Deity but also provides constitutional protection for the pious purpose of the incarnation of Lord Shri Rama Deity at Ayodhya, Sabarimala Deity and all Hindu Deities so that none of the temple traditions can be attacked through the Public Interest Litigation process in Supreme Court removing the basis of Sep 28th Sabarimala Judgement of SC under Review.

Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.