Sad Story of Government Interference in Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam

In the previous article, I have tried to cover the history of Sri Ahobilam Temple. Here, I will cover how the Government has illegally interfered in Sri Ahobilam Temple Administration. As discussed, in the previous part, Sri Ahobilam Temple is the divine abode of Sri Narasimha Swamy within the Kurnool District in Andhra Pradesh. Sri Narasimha Swamy is worshipped in nine forms in Ahobilam. Sri Ahobilam Matham(A Vadakalai Sri Vaishnava Religious Institution) was established 630 years ago as per traditional sources and the Jeeyars of the Matham have been administering the temple as trustees. Presently, 46^th Jeeyar of Sri Ahobilam Matham is the Hereditary Trustee of Sri Ahobilam Temple. Jeeyar appoints the subordinates – Mudrakartha and Sri karyakartha – to look after the day to day affairs of the Ahobilam Devasthanam as per his instructions. Jeeyar of Sri Ahobila math are the Archaka sanyasis of the temple and they are the authority to appoint all the temple servants including Archakas. 

Generally, Governments in various states in India always look for an opportunity to take over various temples citing some allegations against the administrators for any mismanagement( be it priests or trustees) and the Government does not mention the period of takeover to cure the mismanagement. The Honourable Courts in many cases have mentioned that there need to be reasons stated for the takeover of the temple and more importantly, Government can take over the temple only for a limited period to cure the mismanagement. So, the Government cannot take over any temple for perpetuity as it is in violation of Articles 25 and 26 and various High Court and Supreme Court Judgements. However, the Government does not follow the law and procedure prescribed for the takeover of temples and instead looks for an opportunity to control temples for an unlimited period and interfere in the religious and day to day affairs of the temple. Sri Ahobilam Temple is no exception in this instance. In 2008, the Government of Andhra Pradesh(Commissioner, Department of Endowments), appointed an Executive Officer where the Manager of Ahobilam Matham was promoted as the Executive Officer by the Commissioner of Endowments Departments. The efforts by Andhra Pradesh Government to take over the Sri Ahobilam temple is illegal in this particular case due to the following reasons.

1. Sri Ahobilam Temple qualifies for a Religious Denomination or Dharmik Sampradaya (under Article 26) due to the following unique practices and traditions which is applicable to that particular religious institution.
   1. For several centuries, Ahobilam Devasthanam has been under the control of Ahobilam Matham and they have done an excellent job in administering and managing the temple and followed all the required traditions associated with the temple.
   2. Ahobilam Devasthanam is administered by and in the name of Nammazhwar (represented by Sri Adivan Satagopan Jeeyar, founder Peethadhipathi of Ahobilam Matham) which is a unique practice different from any other place of worship.
   3. The idol of the first Peethadhipathi is worshipped along with the main deity in Sanctum Sanctorum.
   4. Mathadhipathis are giving religious instructions of Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam of Samasrayanam and Bharanyasam with respect to Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam.
   5. Peethadhipathi issues Sreemukham(his royal orders) for administrative and other purposes of the temple.
   6. Peethadhipathi directly touches the Lord which cannot be seen even in other Sri Vaishnava Religious temples where Agama way of worship is followed.
   7. Honourable Supreme Court of India in the Case, Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowments, Madras vs Lakshmindra Theertha Swamiyar(Shirur Math case) of 1954, made the following observation- “As Article 26 contemplates not merely a religious denomination but also a section thereof the math represented by it can legitimately can come within the purview of this article”. Thus Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam or Temple is a Math Temple under the administrative control of Sri Ahobilam Matham.
   8. What is a Math(Matham) in legal terms? Section 2(17) of Act no.30 of 1987 Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act defines a Math “Math means a Hindu Religious Institution presided over by a person, whose principal duty is to engage himself in the teaching and propagation of Hindu religion and philosophy or the teachings and philosophy of the denomination, sect or sampradaya to which the math belongs and in imparting religious instruction and training and rendering spiritual service or who exercises or claims to exercise spiritual headship over a body of disciples; and includes any place or places of religious worship, instruction or training which are appurtenant to the institution”. Historical Documents, Legislative Assembly Debate and even GO.Rt.No 06 make it clear that Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam is appurtenant to Sri Ahobilam Matham and hence falls within the definition of Math. Therefore, the takeover of Ahobilam Devasthanam by the State of Andhra Pradesh is a violation of Article 26 of the Constitution which is a fundamental right.
2. It is a well established fact that Mathadhipathis of Sri Ahobilam Matham (who are in succession to Sri Adivan Satagopan Jeeyar) is the Hereditary Trustee to Ahobilam Devasthanam. Being a Mathadhipathi, His Hereditary trusteeship was not abolished by act no.30 of 1987 Act as he does not falls within the definition of Hereditary trustee defined under section 2(16) of the Act.30 of 1987 due to judicial metamorphosis that was admitted by the State of Andhra Pradesh in the case Sri Sri Sri Lakshmana Yatheendrulu vs State of Andhra Pradesh-“The abolition of hereditary rights by Section 16 does not include the right of Mathadhipathi. Mathadhipathi in most cases is nominated by his predecessor. Mathadhipathi is a sanyasi who has renounced worldly affairs and severed his ties with his family. There is no scope for Hereditary succession to the office of a Mathadhipathi. The hereditary trustee defined under Section 2(16) and abolished under Section 16 does not, therefore, include Mathadhipathi. The concept of hereditary trustee defined in the predecessor Act 17 of 1966 is the same as in the Act.  Section 16, therefore, has no application to a Mathadhipathi.”. The Hereditary Trusteeship of Mathadhipathi is substantiated by the GO.MS no.386 on 19^th November 2014, in which the Department of Endowments, Government of Andhra Pradesh admitted that there is no tradition of constituting Non-Hereditary trust board to Ahobilam Devasthanam

There are other instances of Government interference and trying to take control of Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam. One instance is the Faulty publication of Ahobilam Devasthanam under Section 6(a) of the Act of 1987 where the reply to the RTI application on 31st January 2019 stated that Sri Ahobila Matham Paramparadheena Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam, Ahobilam was Published under Section 6(a) of the act but the said file was not traced in the record section. Section 6 (a) of Act no.30 of 1987 reads as “the Commissioner shall prepare separately and publish in the prescribed manner a list of i)the charitable institutions and endowments or (ii)the religious institutions and endowments other than maths”. 

Ahobilam Devasthanam shall not be published under sec 6 a(i) since it is not a charitable institution. It shall not be published under section 6a(ii) even, because it is well established that Ahobilam Devasthanam is a religious institution that has an inseparable connection with Ahobila Matham. Furthermore, it is a religious institution appurtenant to Sri Ahobila Matham that falls within the definition of Matham and sec 6a(ii) clearly excludes Matham. Such publication copy is not traced in the record section which clearly shows that the Commissioner, Department of Endowments, Government of Andhra Pradesh made an attempt to bring Ahobilam Devasthanam under its control by a faulty publication which is not in compliance with the state act. 

There are various instances of interference in the religious affairs of Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam by the State of Andhra Pradesh. Example – It is an age-old practice to write the prefix”Sri Ahobila Math Paramparadheena” before the name of subject Devasthanam. This Practice of writing the prefix is protected under section 13(1) of Act 30 of 1987. However, the Executive officer appointed by the Commissioner, Department of Endowments had removed the prefix Sri Ahobila Math Paramparadheena before the name of the subject devasthanam in the invitations printed for various festivals celebrated in the temple. For instance, the pamphlets printed for the recently celebrated karthika vanabhojanam festival-2019, Vaikunta ekadasi and Dhanurmasam festival Narasimha Deeksha Mahotsavam-2020 do not have the prefix. There are various other instances of interference in the religious affairs of Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam by the State of Andhra Pradesh. 

In Ahobilam Devasthanam, Narasimha Swamy is worshipped in nine forms in nine different shrines. Also, there are many sub-shrines within the temple complex. Ahobilam Devasthanam follows the tradition of Sri Ahobila math and all the Archakas follow the sampradaya of Sri Ahobila math. The Mathadhipathi of Sri Ahobila math appoints the archakas and non archakas through his Sree Mukham. Commissioner, Department of Endowments issued a memo on 18^th February 2019 that deals with the fixation of cadre strength of Archakas and thereby directing the E.O to appoint new archakas. The Commissioner reduced the strength of Archakas from 6 to 4. How can Commissioner decide how many Archakas are needed for Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam and how can an Executive Officer appoint new Archakas? Does the Executive know the criteria for appointing Archakas? Is the Executive Officer aware of the traditions, agamas, customs and practices of Ahobilam Devasthanam? 

Department of Endowments, Government of Andhra Pradesh even issued guidelines for the celebrations of Brahmotsavam-2020 which was evident from the Invitation printed and distributed by the Executive Officer. The unfortunate and sad thing is that they do this despite publicly admitting the  Mathadhipathi as a Titular Head of the institution on their official website. This is blatant interference in the religious affairs of Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam which is in violation of Article 26(b) of the Constitution. The temple is administered by and in the name of Nammalwar (Sri Van Satagopa Sri) for centuries. Archeological records reveal that Temple accounts which were called Sri Bhandaram in the past were operated by the Mathadhipathi. The bank accounts of the temple are being operated by the Peethadhipathi of Sri Ahobila math by and in the name of Sri Van Satagopa Sri even to date. This was even admitted by the Revenue vigilance-iv Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh in the GO Rt no:6 on 2nd January 2018. The temple has its account in the Andhra Bank branch in Ahobilam. However, the present Executive Officer opened a bank account in the State Bank of India, Allagadda branch in the name of “Executive Officer, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam” and is depositing temple money in that bank account. Executive Officer had admitted that he had deposited the money in the account opened by him as per the instructions issued by Commissioner through the order in Re No.COE 13025(43)/35/2018 and this particular order issued is in violation of section 55, Section 8(1) and section 13(1) of Act no.30 of 1987 Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act. Also, there are no proper grounds for the issuance of such an order. 

Mathadhipathi of Ahobila math, though the principal account holder for the temple, is not even incurring his expenses of Sri Ahobila math from the temple account which was admitted by the present Executive Officer in the RTI reply. It shows that Mathadhpathi is genuinely managing and administering the temple and the opening of a new bank account by the Executive Officer abolishes the age-old practice of temple being administered by and in the name of Nammalwar and converted the Religious Denominational Character of the temple. To summarize, the Department of Endowments, Government of Andhra Pradesh had made a hostile takeover of Ahobilam Devasthanam from Sri Ahobila math by involving itself in the Religious and other affairs of Ahobilam Devasthanam by Converting this Religious denomination, the Math into a Temple by exercising its executive power which is not in compliance with the state law, Act no.30 of 1987 Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments and the Central law made by the Parliament, Act no.42 of 1991 and that violates Article 26 of the Constitution. 

Hence, Mathadhipathi through his GPA had filed a case in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh(WP 5105 of 2019) by challenging the appointment of Executive Officer. The Honourable High Court in one of its interim orders held a status quo position with regard to the appointment of the Executive Officer and also directed the Executive Officer not to take part in the affairs of the Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam except under the directions of Ahobilam Matham (Mathadhipathi) but this interim order was violated where in December 2020, a new Executive Officer was appointed. Another interim order granted by the Hon’ble High court directing the Petitioner mutt to release the legitimate dues directly to concerned persons was also violated by opening and operation of new bank accounts by the Executive Officer and taking away Temple money. Even Representations in form of letters were filed by Sri Kidambi Sethu Raman (the Shishya of Ahobilam Matham and whose ancestral background is with the Founder Peethadhpathi (Sri Adivan Satagopan Swamy) to Home Minister, Governor, etc to take necessary action but no action has been taken until now to free Sri Ahobilam Devasthanam from Government interference.

Primary Reference: Sri Kidambi Sethu Raman, currently the Shishya of Ahobilam Matham and has his ancestral background with the Founder Peethadhpathi (Sri Adivan Satagopan Swamy)