Unauthorised construction in Mahavishnu Temple at Thirunelli, Wayanad (Kerala) !

• Malpractices in temple management by Malabar Devaswom Board, Kerala !

• Observation by Kerala High Court !

• Order to stop work immediately

• Petition by Hindu devotees leads to such action !

Wayanad (Kerala) – Kerala High Court has pulled up Malabar Devaswom Board on many irregularities observed in the construction work undertaken in Thirunelli Mahavishnu Temple. A report on unauthorised construction undertaken by Kerala Government and Malabar Devaswom Board was presented before the Court, after which the Court issued an order to immediately stop all construction work. Local Hindu devotees had filed a petition in High Court some time ago, drawing attention to the faults in the construction work. Based on this, High Court set up a commission under M R Arun Kumar. Hindus’ efforts have borne fruits with the Court’s order.

Observations made by the Commission

1. Many archaeologically important places in this temple have been destroyed.

2. Washrooms, toilets, and septic tanks have been constructed on the banks of the holy ‘Papanashini River’, due to this, sewage water might get mixed with the water of the river and even in the temple’s ‘Pancha Theertha Kulam’.

3. The river’s flow has been stopped and soil from the naturally sensitive area is taken out with the help of JCB, which can lead to landslides.

4. Misuse of funds was also observed which were meant for construction.

5. An ancient construction named ‘Vilakku’ was unnecessarily demolished.

6. The hundred years old aqueduct system for bringing holy water directly from Brahmagiri Mountain to the temple known as ‘Thidapally’ has been destroyed, leading to the demolition of the construction that helped in making way for water. Thus, the ancient tradition has been ended.

7. The report recommends stringent action against the concerned administrative officers of the Devaswom Board.

Archaeology dept kept in dark over Thirunelly temple renovation
The chuttambalam or the structure around the sanctum sanctorum has been pulled down, except for the balikkalpura structure on the front side.https://t.co/6tqgIt875k#SaveThirunelliTemple

— Armchair Groundworks (@Kuvalayamala) June 13, 2023

Editorial Viewpoint

We need to note the adverse effects of Governments’ taking control of temples. All temples in Kerala have been taken over by the State Government, and the malpractices of Devaswom Board in various incidents were exposed even earlier. Hindus, therefore, now need to raise voices for the dissolution of these boards !