Vadagalai-Thengalai case: Court spells guidelines for Prabandham chanting

Justice S M Subramaniam made this observation while closing a contempt petition for willfully and deliberately disobeying the judgement issued way back in 1915 and subsequently in 1969 as to who should commence recital of mantrams at the first instance at Sri Varadharaja Swamy Temple in Kancheepuram.

“The complaint made on behalf of the Thengalai Sect that they alone should be permitted to recite Prabandhams can never be allowed. Both the Vadagalai and Thengalai Sectors should be permitted to recite Prabandhams and there cannot be any other opinion, as permitting a Sect, would result in unconstitutionality,” Justice Subramaniam said while calling for a balanced approach to respect customary religious practices and the sentiments of the people.

Also, on noting that owing to the dispute the Prabandhams have not been chanted for the past about two years, the judge in his order held “Rights and Duties are inseparable. When both the sectors are claiming certain rights, they are equally obligated to perform their corresponding duties. Dispute may arise and disappear but chanting of Prabandhams can never be stopped and “individualization” of performances of religious rights have no role in the matter of worshiping God in a Temple.”

Based on this, Justice Subramaniam offered a string of directions which included inviting Thengalai Sect firstly during Pooja festivals and on such invitation the Thengalai Sect shall be permitted to recite the first two lines of Srisaila Dayapathram (initial recital).

On completion of the said initial recital by Thengalai Sect, the Executive Trustee, Sri Devaraja Swamy Devasthanam, shall permit Vadagalai Sect to commence the first two lines of Sri Ramanuja Dayapathram (initial recital) and on their completion of initial recital, then both Vadagalai and Thengalai Sectors shall be permitted to recite Prabandhams jointly.

On completion of Prabandhams, the Thengalai Sect shall be permitted to recite the concluding Mantram “Manavalamamunigal Vaazhithirunamam” and thereafter, Vadagalai Sect shall be allowed to recite their concluding Matram “Desikan Vazhi Thirunamam” and accordingly the process of recitals shall be concluded.

If any one of the sects are unwilling to recite their Mantrams and Prabandhams, as per the directions issued by this Court, then the Executive Trustee shall permit anyone of the willing sect to recite the Mantrams and Prabandhams during Pooja festivals. The approved scheme shall be followed with effect from 1st March 2020, Justice Subramaniam said.