Chilkur Balaji priest urges AP CM YS Jagan to constitute Dharmika Parishad

Hyderabad: Chilkur Balaji temple priest on Monday demanded the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy constitute Dharmika Parishad.

The temple head priest CS Rangarajan said that the recent decision of TTD to liquidate properties has brought into focus the need for a strong independent Andhra Pradesh Dharmika Parishad which unfortunately was dissolved in 2014. Rangarajan said, while TTD has explained that the decision was in continuation of the process initiated in 2015, the timing is not correct as it would lead to several temple administrations liquidating valuable properties belonging to Deities at low prices when the economy is in a depressed state.

Rangarajan further said that the very act of disposal of devotee donated properties was not correct even if it was done in the past and there is a need for a review of this by Dharmika Parishad. "As per Dharma when during the financial crisis it is the duty of the trustees to protect the temples and its properties by even spending their personal earnings and energy," said Rangarajan.

Temple Trustees can take a decision to liquidate the property of the Temple only when they have exhausted all other options including liquidating their own personal properties. The same would apply to a situation where the government is a Trustee, said the temple priest.

In 2008, in the TTD Dharma Prachara Sadas attended by over 40 Peetadhipathis, it was resolved that a Dharmika Parishad should be constituted for each State as recommended by Justice Rama Jois Committee to oversee the entire temple administration.

The Andhra Pradesh Select Committee which had perused the report of Justice Jois had also strongly recommended for the constitution of Andhra Pradesh Dharmika Parishad with Peetadhipathis, eminent devotees and a suitable amendment was also made through amendment Act 33 of 2007 by the YS Rajasekhar Reddy government.