Poonamalee Uyir Thuluva Vellalar Marabinar Sangam has staked claim to a Board seat at the Kapaleeswarar Temple - has approached the Madras High Court to hand back their historical rights
The community had made several contributions to the development and improvement of the temple over the last few centuries and has been actively contributing to Utsavams and Kumbabhisekams at the temple
Over three Centuries ago, when the Kapaleeswarar temple was being built in its current location, the Thuluva Velalar community had a significant role to play in its development. 82 year old AC Kandaswamy, a Civil Engineer, is now the President of the Poonamalee Uyir Thuluva Vellalar Marabinar Sangam that was officially registered in 1946 once the HR & CE took over the temple. He recounts the role of his forefathers in the development and improvement of the temple over the last few centuries “Mylai Naattu Muthaiappa Mudhaliar donated lands for the temple 380 years ago. Several members of the community made large donations in the form of jewels and house properties for the maintenance of the temple.”
Role in Kumbabhisekams
The community has also been playing an integral role in the Kumbabhisekam of the temple including the consecration of the Koothaadum Vinayakar Sannidhi at the Eastern Entrance of the temple.
Golden Chariot
In 1999 when the Golden Chariot was completed and inaugurated, it was this association that undertook the inaugural run of the Chariot. Every year since then, the association has been organizing a Golden Chariot run on the inauguration date of the Sangam (May 9).
A Temple property in North Madras
The community had donated several properties to the temple few centuries ago. It was with the rental income from these properties that Utsavams were organised. Not just here in Mylapore, they had also donated a house on Thirupalli Street in Georgetown in North Madras for the conduct of the Theppotsavam and Panguni Utsavam at the Kapaleeswarar temple.
He points out that their contribution has been significant in the centuries gone by. Historically, the Community has been organizing the first day of the Theppotsavam in Thai every year and also the Yaanai Vahanam procession on the sixth day of the Panguni Brahmotsavam. In addition, they have also been organizing the Vayilar Nayanar Utsavam on Margazhi Revathi. Also, their forefathers were once the ‘Kanakkupillai’ at the temple.
He says that till the middle of the 19th century, there were two trustees and one overseer (supervisor) on the board of the temple. In 1862, the Board Revenue took charge of the temple and then in 1946, the HR & CE took over the temple. Even after the HR & CE took over, three members of the Thulu Vellala community were appointed as trustees and this went on till 1976. And then all of a sudden, no members were appointed from the community.
Kandaswamy says that the community then approached the court with concrete evidence of their contribution to the temple and their role on the board. Based on the documents presented to them the High Court directed in 1980 to appoint at least one representative from the Poonamalee Uyir Thuluva Vellalar Marabinar Sangam to the Board of Trustees of the temple. For three decades, there continued to be this representative on the Board. Earlier in the decade, the trustee was done away with and ‘Thakkar’ was appointed by the HR & CE.
Temple activist TR Ramesh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html?m=1) has filed a case for about 60 temples including Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple. He has asked for the temple to be handed over to the Trustees/their descendants from whose hands the temple was taken over. The High Court had issued notice to the government and the Commissioner.
