Madras High Court Urges Unity Between Tenkalai & Vadakalai Sects, Ends Order With Poetic Plea For Peace

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court has made a heartfelt appeal for harmony between the Tenkalai and Vadakalai branches of the Vaishnavite tradition—sectarian divisions that have persisted since the 15th century. In an unusual but powerful gesture, the judge concluded his order with a poem, calling on both groups to put aside their differences and embrace peace.

Emphasizing the core principles of religion—lawfulness and unity—Justice Venkatesh observed that both sects should focus on the peaceful conduct of temple festivals and refrain from elevating their respective religious preceptors, Manavala Mamuni and Vedanta Desikar, above Lord Venkateswara himself.

This sentiment was expressed while the court dismissed a writ petition filed by T.A.P. Srirangachari and K.B. Srinivasan, both followers of the Tenkalai sect. The petition challenged a 28 May 2024 directive issued by the Executive Officer (EO) of the Vilakoli Perumal Sri Vedanta Desikar Temple in Kancheepuram. According to the petitioners, the EO had prohibited the Tenkalai community from chanting Tengalaimantram and Tengalaivazhithirunamam—hymns dedicated to their Acharya—even during temple processions conducted outside the temple premises.

The petitioners claimed that a legal battle over these chants date back to 1811 and that a favorable verdict for the Tenkalai sect was delivered by the Conjeevaram Munsif Court in 1915, later upheld by the Madras High Court in 1918.

However, the EO argued that for decades, the Tenkalai sect had voluntarily refrained from hymn recitations inside the temple. The Vadakalai sect had been exclusively reciting the Divyaprabandham and other devotional hymns for over 50 years. He also pointed out that a similar petition filed by the Tenkalai sect in 2006 had been dismissed in 2014, and the ruling was upheld by both a Division Bench of the High Court and the Supreme Court.

Justice Venkatesh concluded that a writ petition could not be used to enforce a civil decree. The petitioners would need to seek remedy through an execution petition before the appropriate civil court. He further clarified that the police should not be involved in enforcing civil decrees unless there’s a threat to public order.

The judge also proposed a possible solution: the Tenkalai sect could consider joining their Vadakalai counterparts in reciting only the Divyaprabandham during processions. However, should they insist on reciting their specific Acharya hymns, their only legal course would be through civil execution proceedings.

Justice Venkatesh encapsulated his message of unity in a poignant poem:

Vadakalai and Thenkalai, two petals on one stem,
Both seek Lord Venkateswara Perumal, both belong to Him.
In the name of Acharyas, the quarrels still ignite,
Yet, those wise souls now bask in the Lord’s pure light.
Their journeys ended at His lotus feet so grand,
While we, their children, still draw lines in the sand.
Let us honour their path, let old divisions cease —
And walk together united in faith and peace.

(With inputs from The Hindu)