In the nondescript town of Annur near Coimbatore stands the Kari Varadaraja Perumal Temple, believed to be around five centuries old. 14 years have elapsed since the last kumbabishegam (temple consecration) happened.
As the temple showed signs of dilapidation, devotees repaired and renovated the temple with their by pooling contributions on their own.
A mandapam and a sannadhi (shrine) for 12 Azhwars was constructed along with the expansion of the circumambulatory path. The thiruppani group (temple devotee volunteers) had applied to the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department last month for conducting the temple consecration. Sacred waters were brought from the Bhavani sangamam were brought and other rituals were commenced. The Kumbabishegam was slated to be held on 1 December 2023 with grand fervor and invitations were already printed and distributed.
Amidst this, on the evening of 29 November 2023, officials from the office of the Joint Commissioner of the HR&CE department informed them to “complete the pending work” and then hold the kumbabishegam causing shock among the devotees. However, the thiruupani group has stated that they’ve completed all the work and that no work was pending adding that the temple consecration would happen on a date approved by the HR&CE officials.
A report by Dinamalar quotes the Joint Commissioner Ramesh saying that there are two committees – state level committee and mandal level committee – to give permission to conduct kumbabishegam adding that the thiruppani group did not follow the guidelines given by the committees. He said that once “all the pending work” is completed the committees will once again review and then give permission.
The Coimbatore North BJP District President Sangeetha in a statement said that the temple was repaired and renovated without taking a single penny from the government through voluntary contribution of devotees. She said that it shows the anti-Hindu attitude of the DMK government as the permission was denied despite applying for the same one month before the consecration. She threatened that the BJP would protest if permission is not given to the temple in the next few days.
Selva Kumar, Vice President of BJP Tamil Nadu’s Industrial Cell alleged that the permission was denied as the devotees refused to pay 30% commission to the government officials. He claimed that the Joint Commissioner Ramesh threatened to arrest the hundreds of devotees who had gathered at 5.00 PM yesterday and locked the temple.
“Yesterday 29.11.23 Yagasala Pujas started from 5.00 AM. However, due to non-payment of the 30% commission due, Ramesh, the HR&CE officer, threatened to arrest the hundreds of devotees who had gathered at 5.00 PM and locked the temple. An unprecedented event in Tamil Nadu, the HR&CE department has dared to stop the temple consecration for the sake of the commission. Is this fair?”, he posted.
அன்னூர் கரிவரதராஜர் கோவிலில் ₹2.5 கோடி மதிப்பில் பக்தர்கள் நன்கொடையில் திருப்பணிகள் செய்யபட்டு நாளை 01.12.23 காலை 7.45க்கு கும்பாபிஷேகம் நடப்பதாக இருந்தது.
நேற்று 29.11.23அதிகாலை 5.00 முதல் யாகசாலை பூஜைகள் தொடங்கின.
ஆனால், அறநிலையத்துறை அதிகாரி ரமேஷ் கிடைக்க வேண்டிய 30%… pic.twitter.com/lMDgCDPjf8— Selva Kumar (@Selvakumar_IN) November 30, 2023
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