The issue of which of the four priests of the Chaluvanarayanaswamy temple in Melkote should carry the crown from the treasury to the temple during the annual Brahmotsava, like last year, has raked up a controversy yet again.
Last year, then deputy commissioner of the district P C Jaffer had offered an amicable solution by asking all the four priests to carry the crown. This time however, the first priest of the temple, Karagam Narayana Iyengar, has sought legal resort on the issue and has produced a court order, which states that he should be the only person to be allowed to accompany the crown.
This has not gone down well with the remaining three priests. Nagaraj Iyengar, one of the priests said that according to page 45 and 46 of the handbook of the temple, all ceremonies should be organised together by all four priests. Criticising Narayan Iyengar’s move of seeking a court order to perform the ceremonies alone, he said they too would move the court if necessary to perform the ritual together.
DC B N Krishnaiah said that only Narayan Iyengar will be allowed to accompany the crown, as per the court order.
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