News & Notes - May 2005

     72nd birthday of Poojya Swamiji will be observed on May 13.  The function will be conducted with the usual solemnity and austerity befitting the occasion. Poojya Swamiji’s voice is yet to regain its normal vigour. Although all the test reports have been negative, the Doctor feels that Swamiji’s throat should be under regular observation for at least next three months. During this period, Swamiji has been advised to use the voice moderately for short durations at a stretch.

     Pandavagiri Devi Temple — Pathway Dispute: The ownership title to the pathway of Pandavagiri Aykunnu Devi Temple on whose slope the Ashram is situated, came under dispute, when Paralam graama panchaayat suddenly issued a notice in 1997 stopping the Temple Committee from tarring the pathway to facilitate traffic to the Temple as well as the residences on both sides of the temple-road. 

The Temple Committee approached Kerala High Court claiming the ownership right of the South Nata (pathway), which had been the main approach to the Temple for ages. In the final judgement, the High Court stated that the Title should be decided by the appropriate Civil Court. Accordingly, a Declaration Suit was filed in 1998. The Additional Munsif, Trichur, gave judgement on 31st January 2005 awarding the Title to the Temple Committee, disallowing all claims of the Panchaayat.

The panchaayat has never in its history done anything for the upkeep of the Nata, which has existed as an integral part of the Temple for ages. Nor does it have any paper to show that the Pathway was transferred to or acquired by the panchaayat as required by law.

The singular 44-page judgement of Honourable Sri Babu Prakash, Addl. Munsif, reveals how the Court views with sanctity the nature, status and holiness of Temple Natas (pathways), which form an indispensable part of Kerala Temples throughout the State.

On 16th March the Temple Managing Committee convened a public meeting of Devotees and Dharmic Votaries at the entrance of the South Nata, near the Holy Ashvattha Tree standing there.  Poojya Swamiji explained the history and circumstances in which the suit had to be filed and judgement obtained. “Panchayat is, in fact, fabricating and fighting a non-issue with some ulterior motives, thus frittering the hard earned tax money of the people, causing equally the offerings of devotees to be wasted”, he said. 

“Temples are the great citadels of our culture and ethos.  To think of undermining it for any reason on grounds of transitory political gains will be to destroy the very cultural fabric and cohesion of the people.  The signals and the consequences are too grave to be ignored.” – Poojya Swamiji further emphasized.

Representatives of all the Temple Committees in Paralam panchaayat as well as of the various social institutions like NSS, SNDP and SCST were present and addressed the meeting. A resolution was passed unanimously to safeguard and protect the Temple property from political interference and encroachments.

This is a historic instance of Hindu Society and Temple Institutions of the panchaayat coming together for upholding and redeeming the cultural  sanctity with unity of vision and purpose. 

Poojya Swami Purushothama Tirthaji and other Sannyaasins from Vyasa Tapovanam, Nutan Swamiji, Ma and others from Narayanashrama Tapovanam were also present.

    A Move to Restore Paralikad-Minaloor Railway Gates:  Poojya Swamiji has always been striving for the lasting welfare of the people. In the past, his movements have freed some famous temples from barbarous or vulgar indulgences in the name of religion, and removed from some others the unfair caste discrimination and other derogatory practices.

Recently, it has been the campaign to reopen the closed Railway Gates at the Paralikad-Minaloor railway crossings.

On 14th and 15th March 2005, the Railway authorities abruptly closed the level crossings in Paralikad-Minaloor lines on the pretext of repairing them, putting up a notice ‘for repair’. The gates continue to remain closed since then, leaving the people of the area in great hardships.

A number of institutions – many temples, Vyasa Tapovanam and its Vaanaprastha Nilayam, Jnaanashram, Schools, a College, Milk Society, Library, Public Utility Centre, etc. to name a few – have been suffering unduly by the unjust closure of the railway gates.

District Authorities have apparently signalled the closure for reasons not known to people and local residents.  Railway Act and Rules, as far as we have been advised, enjoin that in matters such as these the Collector or the appropriate authority should consult the Local Bodies and People before initiating or precipitating any move like this. 

Local residents who were protesting against the closure of the gates approached Purushothama Swamiji and Poojya Swamiji to guide and lead them in the matter. The Swamijis initiated a campaign to reopen the Railway Gates, saying: “This is certainly not the way a National Public Undertaking like Railways should treat the people of India.”

In his message to the concerned authorities, Poojya Swamiji said: “It is not merely a contemporary instance of withdrawal of rail-crossing facility with the acute distress it has caused to the people for some time now. For us, it is a significant compulsion to ensure a benevolent perception of evaluating and adjudging matters from a great National and Dharmic platform.”

Poojya Swamiji urged the Collector and the Railway Authorities to open the Gate and restore movement and communication across the villages. The Chief Minister of Kerala was also approached in the matter. A very strong dharna was held in Wadakanchery Railway Station under the leadership of the local MP Sri Ajay Kumar and MLA Sri A.C. Moideen. 

To find a solution in the matter, a meeting was held in the Collector’s Office on 8th April 2005. The meeting was attended by Poojya Swamiji as well as the Senior Divisional Engineer of the Railways, the local MLA and Panchaayat President. The Collector assured that he would represent to the higher authorities all the facts and compulsions for reopening the gate.

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