Kapali Temple Take over by Devotees

One has heard of hostile takeovers in the corporate world. In fact there is one happening currently. There have also been cases including in the recent past of the HR & CE taking over private temples. This one is dramatic and possibly a first of its kind attempt in the temple world.

Temple activist and President of the Temple Worshippers Society TR Ramesh has called for a congregation of devotees at the Kapaleeswarar temple this Wednesday evening at 6pm as part of his ‘Own your Temple’  initiative. Ramesh has for long been a vocal advocate of temples being in the hands of Devotees/Trustees/Mutts and has been vehement in his comments on taking away the power from the HR & CE. 

In fact on several occasions in the last five years, he has told this writer quoting various sections in the HR & CE act and historical Court judgments that the HR & CE does not have a place in temples. 

He has repeatedly questioned the locus standi of EOs in temples. Specifically relating to the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, Ramesh has spoken to this writer on many occasions about the EO not having any role in the temple based on specific sections in the act. It was also Ramesh who insisted on the Trustees, Poonamallee Uyar Thuluva Vellalar Marabinar Sangam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/12/kapaleeswarar-temple-vellala-community.html) getting their due rights on the Board, one that had been taken away about four decades ago.

Thus far these had been in the form of petitions, tweets and stories on this blog. Now Ramesh is going in for the kill!!! On the auspicious occasion of Vinayaka Chathurthi (August 31) and as part of the  ‘Own Your Temple’ initiative (people managing the temple), he is looking to take over charge of the temple away from the hands of the HR & CE and the EO. 

For long, Ramesh has maintained that the HR & CE has no role in the temple affairs except when there is a case of mismanagement and even then to only a limited extent. The Board of Trustees is the one that has to have complete control of the management of the temple. In the High Court order last week, the view that he has held for many years was endorsed with the direction that the HR & CE has no right over the appointment of service personnel in agamic temples and that the trustees are the ones entrusted with those powers.

While this 'on the ground' launch of the ‘Own Your Temple’ initiative will take place in the heart of Madras and in one of the six richest temples in TN, Ramesh says that this is only the first of many such temples they are looking at. Another prominent temple in the city is next in line following the one at the Kapaleeswarar Temple.