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Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Vidyadas Baba takes charge as Anjanadri temple's chief priest
Gangavathi (Koppal): Vidyadas Baba has taken charge as the chief priest of the Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple at Anjanadri Hill in Chikka Rampur village, a location considered sacred as Lord Hanuman's birthplace. Following his petition to the Supreme Court challenging his dismissal and the temple's acquisition, the court issued a notice to the state govt on May 27, instructing him to continue conducting the temple's puja and karmic activities. Upon his arrival at Anjanadri, Vidyadas addressed the gathered devotees, proclaiming that the truth was victorious. He said the temple premises will be kept clean, and religious activities, including Sanskrit Pathshala, Homa Havan and Hanuman Chalisa chanting, will be organised regularly. Additionally, a special puja for Anjaneya will occur every Saturday, with free food provided to the devotees. The dispute began in 2018 when the state govt attempted to place the Anjanadri Temple under the Muzrai department's control using the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1997. This action faced strong opposition from Vidyadas, whose family maintained the temple's religious practices for over 120 years following the Ramanandi tradition. On May 27, the Supreme Court instructed the state govt to retain Vidyadas as chief priest, allowing him to continue his religious duties and reside in the Mandir room. This decision temporarily halted the govt's takeover plans and reinforced the High Court's 2023 interim order permitting his continued service. The Supreme Court stated that interference with the Pandit's removal or religious practices would face serious consequences. While acknowledging the Muzrai department's administrative role, it upheld Vidyadas and his family's right to conduct worship undisturbed, ensuring their accommodation and basic needs at the premises. Before 2018, the Kishkinda Trust and Pandit family managed the mandir independently without govt involvement. The Koppal deputy commissioner's 2018 order transferred administrative control to the govt under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1997. The writ petition lodged by Vidyadas is awaiting resolution in the Karnataka high court. The order from the Supreme Court functions as a provisional directive, compelling compliance with the earlier orders of the high court and advising the state govt against any breaches.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SC orders traditional archaka's service at Anjenya temple
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Karnataka government to forthwith restore services of the traditional archaka at Anjaneya temple, believed to be Lord Hanuman's birthplace situated at Anjanadri Hills Koppal district, and warned the state of consequences if its orders are disobeyed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In July 2018 when H D Kumaraswamy was heading the state govt, the Koppal district collector under Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997, passed an order to acquire the Anjaneya Temple and assumed power to appoint an administrator to manage the temple. The archaka, Shri Vidyadas Babaji, challenged the takeover of the temple by govt. But the HC only allowed him to perform his duties as archaka of the temple till final adjudication of his appeal. It also allowed him to continue with the Sanskrit Pathshala. However, on March 15 this year, the deputy commissioner of Koppal and other officials visited the temple with the Election Commissioner and forcibly appointed another person to perform the temple rituals and harassed him to force the traditional archaka to leave the place. When he accused the officials of contempt of HC's 2018 order, the HC did not give any relief. Appearing for the archaka, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, informed a partial working day bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta about the way the state govt was attempting to evict the archaka and take full control of the temple and oust the hereditary priest, belonging to Ramanandi community. The bench took a serious view and directed the state officials to scrupulously adhere to the HC's interim orders, failing which contempt proceedings would be drawn against them. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The HC in its interim order on Feb 14, 2023, had directed the officials 'not to create any hindrance or obstruction to the petitioner in performing poojas, Archak duties in the said subject temple and also permit him to continue to do so without any interruption, impediment or hindrance from the respondents, its officials or anyone else.'
