Chennai: The Madras high court has ordered that the doors of the main entrance of the ancient Arulmigu Devanathaswamy temple in Thiruvandipuram in Cuddalore district shall not be closed when the procession of the deity of Manavala Mamunigal is taken out.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian asked the two Vaishnavaite sects involved in the dispute to cooperate during the temple festival. He passed the interim order on a batch of four petitions and posted the matter to November 3 for further hearing.
While two petitions challenged the order of the commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, which refused permission to close the doors at the entrance of the temple at the time the procession of Manavala Mamunigal was taken out, one asked for the opposite relief and yet another petition sought police protection to maintain law and order.
The judge said the dispute on hand was between the Vadakalai and Thenkalai sects of Vaishnavites. The temple festival was to begin on October 19.
The Thenkalai sect takes out the deity of Manavala Mamunigal in a procession and the Vadakalai sect wants to close the doors of the main entrance of the temple at this time.
The HR&CE commissioner refused permission to the temple to close the doors near the entrance. Hence, the present petitions were filed, the judge added.
The judge said even as per sastras, the doors to the entrance of a temple constructed as per Agamas, cannot be closed except during fixed hours and certain inauspicious times.
Therefore, the doors of the main entrance shall not be closed when the procession of the deity of Manavala Mamunigal is taken out.
However, the processionists shall not obstruct the entry and exit of devotees to the temple. The police shall give protection to ensure that the procession passes off peacefully, the judge added.
