Local leaders don’t want Athi Varadhar to be immersed again

This comes after a section of Kancheepuram AIADMK functionaries and local vendors mooted the idea that Athi Varadhar should be kept for darshan permanently as it would help the business to flourish in and around the temple town.

The local party functionaries were also in an upbeat mood as they get VVIP passes through the offices of State ministers. The economy of Kancheepuram has improved in the past one month as several lakhs of pilgrims thronged the holy town to have darshan of Varadhar. However, both CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam were likely to agree to the agama rules prescribed by religious heads and pontiffs. 

“Both CM and deputy CM, who offered prayers at the temple, were briefed about the deity and its tradition. But regarding the issue of putting the deity back to its niche, they were sceptical,” an informed senior official told DT Next. 

When asked about the demand of town residents and a section of devotees for permanent darshan of Athi Varadhar, H Raja of BJP said, “It is for the Vaishnava Acharyas to decide and I don’t want to comment on the subject about which I don’t know anything.” When contacted, HR&CE department Secretary K Phanindra Reddy admitted that there were requests not to immerse the idol. “The State will ascertain the views of acharyas and bhattacharyas and a final decision will be taken,” the official said. It may be noted that Sri Sri Sri Satakopa Ramanuja Jeeyar of the Manavala Mamunigal Mutt had also submitted a petition to the HR and CE department saying that the idol should not be immersed in the tank again.