Post HC order, Manickavel leads team to inspect Srirangam temple

A devotee, Rangarajan Narasimhan from Srirangam, had reportedly complained that the gold placed at the sanctum sanctorum of the temple was replaced and the Sri Purushotha Perumal idol at Chakkarathalvar Sannidhi were missing. He also suspected that several stone idols adjacent to the main deity were also stolen. 

Since the police failed to register a case in connection with the missing antiques, Narasimhan approached the Madras High Court seeking action and a detailed inspection by the idol wing police of the temple premises. The court passed orders on August 9 and instructed the sleuths to submit a report within six weeks.

Acting on the direction, a team of idol wing police led by Pon Manickavel and ADSP Rajaram, reached the temple around 1.45 pm on Thursday and went through the Sri Ranga Ranga gopuram. The team also inspected the Chakarathalvar sannidhi. Subsequently, they also visited the sanctum sanctorum via the Ariyabattal entrance. Thereafter, the team also went to the Kambathadi Anjajeyar sannidhi and the 1,000-pillar mandapam.

There, the IG inquired with the Joint Commissioner (HR and CE) Jayaraman about the idols of Sri Narayanan and Narasimhar that were covered with clothes. The Joint Commissioner reportedly told him that they were model idols kept for renovation purpose. 

However, the IG asked the temple official whether it was better to renovate the damaged portion than duplicating the original idol.

Later, the team inspected the Venugopala Swamy and Gothanda Ramar shrines and checked the conch and Chakara that were reportedly replaced with granite stone. The IG said such replacements were pure violation of the idol wing rules.

When he went to the Chakkarathalvar sannidhi, a section of devotees complained to the IG that the pedestal of Srirangam Amuthanar sannidhi and Sinham idol was missing and also doubted the measurement of the Purushothama Perumal idol.  

After the inspection, the ADSP Rajaram told media persons that the inspection was initiated as per the orders of the court and only 25 per cent of the inspection have been completed. The inspection would continue in the temple premises, he said.