Madras High Court order to shift Theerthams' opposed

RAMESWARAM: The Madras High court Madurai bench's recent directive to the State Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department to shift six ‘Theerthams’ in the ancient Sri Ramanathaswamy temple in the pilgrim-island of Rameswaram from the northern to the southern side of the shrine complex, has run into rough weather among a large section of devotees and ‘pundits’ of the temple.

Renowned Vedic scholar of Rameswaram, R Chandrasekhara Sarma, responding to the proposal, sounded highly disappointing and said he could not agree with the move. “The Courts should not interfere with the Agamic injunctions, religious customs and Shastraic aspects of any temple,” he said.