Vijayawada: The decision of the endowments department to hand over the Vadlamannati Satram has prompted a rift between the Sringeri Peetham and the state government. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has enquired about the developments and directed the endowments department to go slow on the issue, as the government's image has been besmirched after the demolition of 40 temples in Vijayawada, before the Krishna Pushkaralu.
The Chief Minister has reportedly directed the principal secretary, endowments, J.S.V. Prasad to meet Sringeri seer Bharati Teertha Mahaswamy. The endowments minister was reportedly not taken into confidence by the department heads. When contacted, Mr Prasad said that he would speak on the subject later. Endowments commissioner Y.V. Anuradha said the government had given some directions to Mr Prasad, and asked this correspondent to speak to the officer.
Tension prevailed at Vadlamannativari Satram on Arjun Street in the city, on Tuesday with members of Sringeri Peetham agitating against the move taken by the endowments department to hand over the maintenance of the sathram to Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam without any prior notice. Members of Sringeri Peetham said that the temple officials took a unilateral decision without any consultation. Instead of paying the Rs 12,000 per day towards rent to the Vadlamannativari Satram, the devasthanam resorted to the hasty step of taking over the ownership.
Vadlamannativari Satram’s custodian Nimmagadda Subramanyam said that six months ago the devasthanam had requested the members of Sringeri Peetham to allocate the sathram for conducting annadanam to devotees. At that time, the devasthanam agreed to pay Rs 12,000 per day towards rent to the sathram. However, the Devasthanam paid the rent amount '21.6 lakh until October 15. Assistant commissioner of endowments E.V. Pushpa Vard-han on Tuesday said that Vadlamannativari Satram comes under the purview of endowments department and it has all rights to take over the maintenance of the satram. Hence, the department had handed over the maintenance of the satram to Kanakadurga temple.
Directions were given to the temple to conduct only annadanam at the place. ‘’If temple officials also resorted to any commercial activity at the place, endowments will not hesitate to take similar action,’’ the officer said.
