DINDIGUL, INDIA, March 25, 2006: In a break from tradition, the state Government would not be inviting Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi for the April 3 consecration of the famous hill shrine of Lord Muruga at Palani, 60 km from here. The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR and CE) had no plans to invite the Sankaracharya and his junior Vijayendra Saraswathi for the “mahakumbabishekam” (consecration) of the temple, one of the six famous abodes of Lord Muruga and the richest in the state, officials said. Being the popular “advaita” mutt, it had been the custom to invite the head of the Kanchi mutt for all important festivals and consecrations of major temples. The seers had taken part in the last consecration of the temple in 2000. Their suggestion then for installation of a new “panchaloha” idol, triggered a controversy with some sections opposing it. During a briefing on the arrangements for the function, District Collector Murugaiyah, temple Joint Commissioner T. Sundaram and Chairman of Board of Trustess Balasubramanian told reporters last evening that, however, all the other mutt heads would be invited for the consecration. Over 150 “Sivacharyars” (priests) are expected to attend the event being held after a gap of six years, though the practice is to hold kumbhabishekam once in 12 years. Private donors were sponsoring the entire consecration being held following the gold-plate covering of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, they said. Another major feature of the renovation work was the controversial renovation of the “navabhashana” icon of the presiding Deity, said to be 5,000 years old, amidst protests by a section of the devotees.
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