Administrative Abilities of Mukkur Srimat Azhagiyasingar, Episode-1

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

'potri ugappadum, pundiyil kolvatum, satri valarpadum, sattallavo munnam

petradarke "

 

Note: This is an important history for Sri Muth and all of us need to know.

Since my father (who is also the current Hony Agent of Trivellore temple) was

involved very closely with HH at this point of time he could give this details.

 

Timing: This is an episode happened during 1962-1967.

 

Situation: Country has just got the independence and our people have taken over

with natural rift against Astika thinking. Overnight politicians have become

powerful. General aversion towards Brahmins, Vedic texts and Sanskrit.

 

Context: HH's right over the administration of Sri Veeraraghava Swami

Devasthanam, Trivellore - is it absolute right or collective one along with the

HR & CE (Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment department) and under the purview

of the HRCE Act.

 

Prologue:

* Somewhere in 1840s, when the then British Govt had decided not interfere with

the religion, they decided to hand over the administration of Temples with

prominent God-mens. Thus, the administration of Trivellore temple was entrusted

with Srimat Azhagiyasingar of Sri Ahobila Mutt as its sole Trustee (in many

cases they gave away only the religious portions to such people and retained the

administrative Trusteeship with them. But in the case of HH they entrusted both

to HH and that was the credibility of Srimath in Vasihnava sampradaya. Similarly

they entrusted the Kanchi Kamakshi temple to Kanchi Sankaracharya. We still have

the order of the then Queen with us).

* Subsequently in 1920s and 30s due to local problems/petitions, High Court of

Madras has framed a Scheme for HH to administer the Trivellore Temple. In the

scheme they gave all powers to HH and framed rules for appointments and

accounting. The scheme made HR & CE as the regulatory body to ensure compliance to

the Scheme. In that process as a default clause, the High Court has said in all

other matter not covered in the Scheme, the HR & CE Act will be applicable.

* Due to this HR & CE has become a watch dog.

 

The Challenges of Mukkur Srimat Azhagiyasingar when He took over the Head-ship.

* 43rd HH was traveling by foot and attained moksha at Naimisaranyam (a dense

forest in UP in a sever cold month) suddenly. In that situation, if 44th HH has

not managed, the Govt would have appointed a receiver and Sri Muth would have

fallen on to some one else. They might have even handed over the responsibility

to Uttara Sri Ahobila Muth. The then Lok Sabha Speaker Sri Ananthasayanam

Iyengar played a very vital role in restoring Sri Muth. Our HH was there to save

our Muth. He had the great task of somehow bring the perumal and parivaras back

to South.

* There were some leading sishyas at Chennai who were challenging the 44th HH's

appointment.

* 44th HH has spent all the money under the lock and key for the Kainkaryams of

43rd HH.

 

The Episode:

* In 1962 - the them Agent of Trivellore Sri Veerarghavaswami Devasthanam, Sri

Rangaswamy Iyengar (Gran father of the now the now famous eye surgeon Capt. Dr.

Raghavan of Mambalam), had some misunderstanding and resigned his Agent-ship and

handed over the key to 44th HH at Mukkur. HH tried to pacify and the Agent was

very firm in his stand.

* 44th HH has appointed Sri U. Ve Purusai N. Krishnamachariar (Purusai Swami) as

the next Agent. As per the scheme the HR & CE has to provide the ratification

which they refused (trying to create a trouble). Thus the test of strength has

started.

* Knowing the rift with the previous Agent, HR & CE wanted to fish in troubled

waters. They refused to ratify the appointment of Purusai Swami and wanted to

know the background. HH has sent a letter that all His efforts to keep the

previous Agent were not successful and He has to appoint an another one. In His

own style He has also said that the previous agent was His sisya and hence, He

cannot fall in His feet ( " En kal thannia kudikiravan kalile poi vizha

mudiyadu " ).

* Again, HR & CE came with another objection that Purusai Swami is HH's relative.

For that HH, has said that having attained Sanyas Asrama there is no connection

to his Pooravsrama. All are same and alike for Him. In this situation, any

attribution to his Poorvasarama would amount to great damage to his SanyasAsrama

and if department insists He may have to go in for filing a damage.

* Again, HR & CE came with another objection that Purusai Swami does not know

English. The reply by our HH to this is the highlight of all. HH had accepted

this and said that the then Chief Minister Sri Kamaraj is also not good at

English, but we have entrusted thousand of temple in Tamilnadu to him. Purusai

swami, in His opinion is equally competent and what to do HH has only ONE temple

to make him as the Agent. Having linked the ability of His nominee to that of

the then CM, HR & CE had no clue to proceed with HH. They used delaying tactics

and created administrative harassment.

* The temple was without a formal Agent. In this situation the administration

was paralyzed. Not a paise could be withdrawn from the bank. Mukkur HH, has

called the Manager of the Bank and told him that he will sign all the papers

directly.

* As per the Scheme, every Amavasai, the Hundi has to be opened and cash

counted. The Agent has to communicate to HR & CE so that they will send their

representative. HH known for His administrative acumen, cautioned Purusai Swamy

not to allow him to sign the rep in the records. If the rep insists, he should

be allowed to sign only as an evidence (sakshi) space and not no the

administrative space. On the counting date, the same has happened and the rep

left without signing. AS per the HH direction Purusai Swami got the signatures

from the eminent public persons.

* The deadlock continued and HH has found a way to administer the temple

directly. Purusai swami has stated drawing salary as a clerk and carrying out

the direct orders of HH.

* Meanwhile, there were some other so-called eminent sisyas have lodged

complaints against the HH with HR & CE department regarding the administration of

the Muth by Mukkur Srimat Azhagiyasingar (I shall cover this separately as

another episode).

* At that time, the Joint/Dy. Commissioner of HR & CE, one Sri Ramaliga Reddy came

to Mukkur to see HH in person regarding the issues. HH was very angry and as

usual he bursted him. HH was very upset on the count that the department

unilaterally started taking actions based on certain false complaints without

talking to Him and this has created lots of inconvenience to Him. The Dy. Comm

probably would have never got such a reception from anybody for that matter. HH

in his own style gave him some 200 rupees. The Dy Comm went back and lodged a

complaint that HH has bribed him. For this allegation HH has replied as - He

said that it is customary to give Sambhavana to all those who come to Muth and

it is in practice. Like that He gave the same to Dy Comm. Added to the above

explanation, in His own style, He said that He is not a mere 'maja-seechurnam',

and He knows the level of the people and the rate for bribing. The Dy Comm is

drawing about Rs 10,000 as salary and to bribe He must give at least one month

salary and He only gave a honorarium as He was doing for others.

* Thus, the department has failed on all accounts and failed totally to

established their right over the Trivellore Temple. Naturally they were totally

upset and were desperate to do some thing to dilute HH's sole/total

administrative rights. Due to sheer desperation, HR & CE used the above as a

departmental enquiry and consequently appointed an Executive Officer. They also

modified the existing scheme accordingly.

* Till now we saw the administrative ability of our HH, and now we will enjoy

the legal abilities of our HH

* Having received the orders, our HH called His ardent sishya and an eminent

lawyer, Sri Venugopalachariar (son-in-law of the eminent Federal Court Jurist

Justice S. Varadhachariar) and wanted to file a writ petition in the High Court

against the orders of HR & CE appointing an Executive Officer. Venugopalachariar

suggested that instead of going to court, he will assemble eminent people at

Trivellore and impress upon HR & CE that there is nothing wrong with HH's

administration. HH has totally rejected this approach. Instead He gave the legal

line of attack. The impugned order from HR & CE department was from a departmental

enquiry (similar to a court proceedings). He wanted to file a writ by

challenging the above order asking the following questions. In any case there

must be three entities, namely, the Petitioner (vadi), the Respondent

(prativadi) and the Judge and all these should be distinct. In the departmental

enquiry who is who in these roles. In this case the Petitioner is HH and the

HRCE had the role of Respondent and the Judge. The principles of Natural Justice

demands that one should not be a judge in his own case. Mukkur HH wanted to

highlight this question alone in the writ and He got a stay also.

* The writ was admitted with stay on HR & CE till the disposition of the writ.

Fortunately there was another ruling came at that time in the court of Justice

Ismail that Govt. has no powers to modify the Scheme formulated by the High

Court. It is only High Court that should modify its Schemes, if reqd. With this

pronouncement, the HR & CE has silently withdrawn the case and the order and

Purusai Swami's appointment was ratified.

 

If our Mukkur HH has not fought this battle, the Trivellore Devasthanam by this

time would have totally gone out of HH's hands. Is this not the all time great

contribution of our Mukkur Srimat Azhagiyasingar's contribution to our Sri Muth.

This is worth more than billion dollars.

 

May be many may not even aware of this. If not, let it be for the future

generations.

 

I shall write another significant contribution by 44th HH for the very existence

of our Sri Mutt. The fight started by the 44th HH in 1974 has ended only in 2004

in the High Court. Again many may not even aware of this.

 

HH has protected the sovereignty of Srimath Azhagiyasingars over Trivellore

temple and Sri Muth.

 

Lord Sri Laksmi Narasimha according to the prevalent situation enters

(anupravesa) into the fit-swamis and fulfills what He wants. That is why we call

our HH as Azhagiyasingars. No other Muth can boast/claim this tradition. The

Sannadhi sisyas can feel very proud of this one factor alone. All these are due

to our Adivan Sathakopa's anugraham (Purattasi - next month)

 

I had my janma purified for having shared this episode with you all in the month

of Avani.

 

Dasan

Srivan Sathakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yateendra Mahadesikan Thiruvadi.

Sridhara Dasa:||

 

 

 

 

 

 

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