RAMANATHAPURA, Karnataka, India, November 15, 2011 (The Hindu): In April 2003, the state government of Karnataka notified the Prasanna Sri Subramanya temple at Ramanathapura in Arkalgud that it was now under official control. But, for centuries, the temple has been part of the Sri Samputa Narasimha Math, and while the Indian law allows for the takeover of Hindu temples, that does not extend to monasteries, aadheenams or maths.
Now, after more than eight years, the Bharatiya Janata-led state government has handed back the temple to the Sri Samputa Narasimha Math. The Government issued an order to this effect on August 16 and it was published in the State gazette dated November 3. The 17th century temple that was under the control of the Muzrai Department is now in the hands of the math from the Dwaitha tradition of the Madhwa sect.
The temple attracts thousands during the rathotsava (festival) in November or December.
According to the gazette, the Government’s decision to revert the takeover of the temple was based on a request from the Sri Samputa Narasimha Math and a report from the Arkalgud tahsildar (local revenue administrative officer).
The math explained the temple was built by its 14th pontiff, Vibhudesha Tirtha, in the 17th century and had been in its control since. A copper plate inscription in its possession supported this claim, the Government order says.
Although the tahsildar found no record to substantiate the claim that the temple was allotted to the math, the temple has been looked after by the math since olden days, he reported. Besides, the order adds, the tahsildar’s report notes the appointment of a supervisor (parupattedara) to the temple made by the math in 1985.
Vidya Prasanna Tirtha, present pontiff of math, told The Hindu over phone that the temple had been under the management of his math for centuries. “All these years, the math made appointments to the temple and conducted religious programmes. The temple was under the Muzrai Department only on record for the past few years,” he said. He said the temple was notified along with other temples in Ramanathapura by mistake.
[HPI note: It is baffling that a secular government takes over Hindu, and only Hindu, temples, but does not interfere with Mosques, Churches, Cathedrals or any other religious house of worship.]