Two years ago in December 2019, four men were nabbed by the police for reading the Bible at a park close to the Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple. Now, another incident has come to light where some people attempted to enter the the temple with Bible.
Devotees spotted some people, most likely to be Christian evangelists, in the “free darshan” queue. They informed the authorities who found that they had bible in their bags and trying to enter the temple. The Bible was seized and the evangelists were told to leave the premises immediately.
The Srisailam Temple in Andhra Pradesh, one of the Jyotirlingam pilgrimage sites, seems to have come under the attack of two Abrahamic faiths. While on one hand shops are being allocated to Muslims within the temple premises, the temple has been repeatedly eyed by Christian evangelists for proselytization purposes.
In December 2019, police arrested four men – Peter, Timothy, Praveen and Joshua – who came to the park just adjacent to the Mallikharjuna Temple and started reading the Bible while clicking photos.
In September 2019, a vehicle with a flex banner having Bible verses and photo of YSRCP leader YS Rajashekar Reddy, the father of Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Reddy’s was spotted by devotees. It was found that the owner of the vehicle was a fanatic Christian.
With respect to the influence of Muslims in the sacred site of Hindus, the temple contractor Mohammad Razaq has been giving contracts to Muslim shop owners who have been allowed to put up shops within the temple premises.
BJP leader and Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh has alleged that Muslims have taken over the businesses in the temple town, with the support of Srisailam MLA Silpa Chakrapani Reddy. He also said that Razaq is a close confidante of Reddy and Razaq’s brother is also a TDP leader. He said that the brothers have been able to influence the affairs in the temple town no matter which party (TDP or YSRCP) is in power.
Raja Singh also alleged that Razaq’s wife who is a Hindu and runs a Goshala (cow shed) has been helping her husband in cow slaughtering for meat consumption. Razaq has several cases pending against him. He is said to have transported mutton in flower baskets used for bringing flowers to the temple. Recently gold and other precious items were discovered under a Shiva Linga in Srisailam’s Ganta Matam which is also reportedly have been taken away by Razaq.