Follow Temple Norms Barring Foreign-Returned Priests From Worshipping At Sringeri Sharada Peetham: AP High Court To State

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the State to follow endowment departments 2010 Circular and directions issued by Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham in 2024 wherein priests who have travelled abroad cannot enter the temple's sanctum sanctorum and worship the deity. The petitioner, a priest, alleged that the State was not following a 2010 notification issued by the Endowments Department and a Pramanika dated 20.12.2024 issued by the Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham. As per the Pramanika, persons who have travelled abroad cannot enter the sanctum sanctorum and participate in the worship of the deity. This, the petitioner claimed is illegal, arbitrary and contrary to Section 13 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act.The petitioner referred to referred to a September 18, 2025 order in another writ petition wherein the grievance was that respondent therein who went abroad, was not eligible to perform archakatvam at sanctum sanctorum in the light of the 2010 circular memo. However, he was considered senior to the petitioner therein and posted as Pradhana Archaka, which according to the petitioner was in disregard of the circular memo of the endowment department. The petitioner's specific objection was not responded to by the temple, and so the high court had therein remanded the matter back to the temple body to pass orders afresh "in terms of the Circular No.21 in Rc.No.DP1/52200/2009 dated 10.11.2010, after giving opportunity to both the petitioner and unofficial respondents, within one (1) month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order". Counsel for the State submitted that they will follow Circular dated 10.11.2010 issued by the Endowments Department and the Pramanika dated 20.12.2024 issued by the Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham.Justice Venkateswarlu Nimmagadda in his order said:"Having regard to the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondents and on perusal of the material placed on record, this Court is of the considered view that the present writ petition can be disposed of directing the respondents to follow the guidelines framed under Circular Memo No.21 Rc.No.D.P/52200/2009 dated 10.11.2010 issued by the Endowments Department and the Pramanika dated 20.12.2024 issued by the Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham".The petitioner stated that he is working as Sri Chakra Navavarana Archana Parayanadhar at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devastanam, Indrakeeladri, Vijayawada, Krishna District. He said that the hereditary archakas who traditionally perform the worship of the deity are required to perform strict spiritual discipline, including Trikala Sandhyavandanam, Guru-Upadesha Mantra Japa, adherence to Vedic study and maintenance of ritual purity in food habits, conduct and personal discipline. Only such qualified hereditary priests are entitled to enter the sanctum sanctorum and perform the worship of the presiding deity. Pursuant to which, Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswami, the Jagadguru Shakarachary of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham established in the lineage of Adi Shankaracharya issued Pramanika directions dated 20.12.2024 clarifying the traditional norms governing the worship and the observance of the temple rituals. He further submitted that pursuant to the said directions, "persons who have travelled abroad, persons who have undergone shaving or haircutting contrary to traditional norms and persons who do not adhere to the prescribed spiritual practices shall not enter the sanctum sanctorum and participate in the worship of the deity".Further Commissioner of Endowments issued a circular dated 10.11.2010 directing that the temple rituals and religious ceremonies must be performed strictly in accordance with the Agama Shastras and established temple traditions. However, the respondents are not following the circular memo dated 5 10.11.2010 and Pramanika dated 20.12.2024 thereby affecting the sanctity of the temple worship and the rights of the hereditary priests to perform rituals in accordance with Agama traditions. The plea was thus disposed of. Case title: D S S S SUBRAHMANYAM SOMAYAJI v/s THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH & Anr.WRIT PETITION NO: 8102/2026Click Here To Read/Download Order

Follow Temple Norms Barring Foreign-Returned Priests From Worshipping At Sringeri Sharada Peetham: AP High Court To State

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