Latest news with #Agama
Time of India
07-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
2,000 cops, medical teams ready for Kandadevi temple car festival
Sivaganga: More than 2,000 police personnel, three medical teams, three ambulances, and two fire engines will be deployed for the temple car festival of the Arulmigu Sornamoortheeswarar Temple in Kandadevi on Tuesday. The security plan was finalised at a preparatory meeting chaired by district collector K Porkodi on Monday, after which she inspected four streets around the temple. CCTV cameras will be mounted along the chariot's route, and three watchtowers are erected for real-time monitoring. A multi-department control room near the shrine will coordinate operations, while 42 village administrative officers and assistants will be positioned at potential flashpoints. To bolster crowd management, 15 special executive magistrates have been appointed. The Devakottai sub-collector has issued permission slips to devotees pulling the car and distributed passes to officials. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department has been told to ensure the ritual schedule follows Agama norms, and that basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets, and shade are ready. Workers from the rural development department repaired the chariot streets, cleaned the parking areas, and arranged lights. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation will run special buses for pilgrims.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Madras High Court permits renovation works at Kancheepuram Devarajaswamy Temple
The Madras High Court, on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) permitted renovation works to be carried out inside the Devarajaswamy Temple at Kancheepuram, by Larsen and Toubro (L&T), after the temple management assured to maintain the heritage value as well as aesthetics and not violate the Agama sastras. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh disposed of a writ petition filed by Thathadesikar Thiruvamsathar Sabha after recording the submissions made by the temple's executive trustee R. Rajalakshmi that the works were being carried only with the concurrence of sthalathars, archakas and sthanigas. Representing the temple management, advocate K.V. Babu told the court that the Devarajaswamy Temple was an ancient institution visited by thousands of devotees every day and hence it required certain changes from time to time to ensure better crowd managment practices. The counsel said, the management had decided to lay a temporary ramp on the pathway leading to the garbagriha (sanctum sanctorum) for the benefit of the elderly and the differently-abled devotees and therefore, it could not be objected to by attaching religious significance to climbing the steps. 'The proposed modification is in accordance with Agamic traditions and for the safety and welfare of the public in general. Since these steps are steep and risky, the alteration has been suggested for the safety of the elderly and differently abled persons,' he said. Similarly, the temple administration had decided to construct another ramp for the benefit of the devotees who throng in large numbers to touch a golden lizard found on the ceiling. Further, a pedestal bridge too had been planned to manage the crowd during peak seasons, he added. Asserting that no sannidhis, deities or mural paintings would be disturbed during the renovation, the counsel said, the Heritage and Archaeological Preservation Committee had also reviewed and approved the renovation plan after being satisfied that no heritage structure would be disturbed. Mr. Babu also informed the court the construction plan submitted by L&T had been examined thoroughly and approved by the Regional Level Empowered Committee as well as the State Level Empowered Committee constituted for the purpose of monitoring changes to ancient temples.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC refuses to interfere in Tiruchendur temple consecration timings fixed by experts in Agama principles
Taking into account that experts in Agama principles have arrived at an opinion with regard to the timings of the consecration of the Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday observed that it was not inclined to interfere with it. A Division Bench of Justices S. Srimathy and R. Vijayakumar said considering that experts in Agama principles arrived at an opinion with regard to the timings of the consecration to be held from 6 a.m. to 6.47 a.m., on July 7, the court was not inclined to interfere in the timings. However, the court made it clear it was constrained to form an expert committee only due to the fact that the Vidhayahar of the temple had given three different Pattolais without mentioning that the first two Pattolais were draft in nature. The court upheld the formation of the expert committee and the timings fixed by them and observed that this should not be taken as a precedent in future. Till a decision is rendered by a civil court, the supremacy of the Vidhayahar in relation to religious matters of the temple has to be protected, the court observed. Therefore, the temple is directed to the earlier procedure of seeking opinion from the Vidhayahar through written communication alone and the Vidhayahar should indicate whether it is draft or final Pattolai while giving opinion and fixing the timing, the court said while disposing of review applications. Meanwhile, a Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete heard a public interest litigation petition filed by A. Viyanarasu of Thoothukudi district who sought a direction to the authorities to conduct the consecration of Tiruchendur temple by using Tamil spiritual mantras and hymns equally. The court directed the petition to be tagged along with other similar petitions.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC dismisses plea to appoint panel of Agama experts to finalise temple renovation works
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition that sought a direction to appoint a committee of Agama experts to finalise renovation and repair works at Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district. A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete observed that the State government had already appointed an expert committee and a G.O. had been issued in this regard. If the petitioner was of the opinion that any customs or practices were being violated, he was at liberty to approach the competent authorities under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, the court observed and dismissed the petition filed by B. Ramkumar Adityan of Tiruchendur.
Mint
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Flight spotted over Tirupati's Tirumala Temple sparks outrage, TTD urges centre declare it as 'No-fly zone'
A low-altitude flight of an aircraft over the Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala has sparked outrage among the devotees in Andhra Pradesh, as they voiced their concerns over the violation of the temple's sanctity, reported News18. According to the report, which quoted Agama Shastra, any kind of aircraft, helicopters, drones, and other aerial vehicles are strictly prohibited from flying over the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala. Meanwhile, videos of an aircraft flying over the Tirumala temple went viral on social media. It sparked a debate over the Centre's inaction in declaring the area a no-fly zone. A temple official stated that these overflights violate religious traditions and pose serious security concerns for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Vigilance and Security Wing. Earlier in March this year, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman BR Naidu wrote to Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and requested him to declare Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh as a no-fly zone. It is to be known that Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu also serves as an MP from Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam constituency. BR Naidu in his letter wrote that the Tirumala shrine should be accorded no-fly zone status in accordance with Agama Shastra. 'The Tirumala temple holds immense spiritual value for millions of devotees who visit the shrine every year. According to traditional Agama regulations, the sanctity of the temple is paramount, and any disturbance in its vicinity, including aerial movements, is believed to adversely affect the spiritual environment," News18 quoted the TTD Chairman as writing in his letter to the Union Minister. BR Naidu also requested the Union Minister to take swift action to safeguard the sanctity of the Tirumala shrine.
