P.B.RAJAHAMSAM Vs. S.NARAYANAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr.Vijaya Narayan, learned Senior Counsel, Mrs.Hema Sampath, learned Senior Counsel, Mr.Srinivasa Raghavan, learned Senior Counsel, Mr.A.K.Sriram, learned Senior Counsel, Mr.P.V.Balasubramaniam, learned Senior Counsel and Mr.K.B.S.Rajan, learned Senior Counsel for M/s.M.V.Swaroop, learned counsel appearing for the appellant in W.A.No.1381 of 2022, petitioner in W.P.No.13027 of 2021 and 5th respondent in W.A.No.1382 of 2022, Mr.R.Palaniandavan and M/s.Varuni Mohan, learned counsel appearing for the appellant in W.A.No.1382 of 2022, petitioner in Cont.P.No.367 of 2020, 5th respondent in W.A.Nos.1381 of 2022 and 11th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.G.Rajagopalan, learned Senior Counsel for M/s.Abhinav Parthasarathy, learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P.No.12955 of 2022, 1st respondent in W.A.Nos.1381 and 1382 of 2022 and 4th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.B.K.Kannan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in W.P.No.24729 of 2018, Mr.N.R.R.Arun Natarajan, learned Special Government Pleader Assisted by Mr.K.Karthikeyan, learned Government Advocate appearing for respondents 2 and 3 in W.A.Nos.1381 and 1382 of 2022, respondents 1 and 2 in W.P.No.12955 of 2022 and 1st respondent, Mr.R.Bharanidharan, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the 4th respondent in W.A.Nos.1381 and 1382 of 2022, 2nd respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021 and 3rd respondent in W.P.No.12955 of 2022, Mr.R.Muniyapparaj, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the 1st respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.S.Parthasarathy, learned Senior Counsel for Mr.S.Victor Prasath, learned counsel appearing for the 3rd respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021 and impleading petitioner in Sub.A.No.305 of 2021, Mr.S.R.Rajagopal, learned Senior Counsel for M/s.N.V.Narayanan, learned counsel appearing for the 5th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.N.V.Balaji, learned counsel appearing for the 6th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.V.Raghavachari, learned Senior Counsel for M/s.Nittilakshan, learned counsel appearing for the 7th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.Sathish Parasaran, learned Senior Counsel for M/s.Rahul Balaji, learned counsel appearing for the respondents 8 and 9 in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.C.Santhosh Kumar, learned counsel appearing for the 10th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021 and 2nd respondent in Cont.P.No.367 of 2020, M/s. R.Meenal, learned counsel appearing for the 12th respondent in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Dr.M.A.Venkatakrishnan (Party-in-Person) in W.P.No.13027 of 2021, Mr.B.K.Kannan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in W.P.No.24729 of 2018, Mr.K.Hariharan, learned counsel apearing for the 2 nd respondent in W.P.No.24729 of 2018, Mr.K.K.A.Ananthalwan (Partyin-Person) in C.M.P.Nos.2094 and 2095 of 2024, Mr.K.V.Babu, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in C.M.P.No.9449 of 2024, Mr.Rangarajan Narasimhan (Party-in-Person) in W.M.P.No.10147 of 2024, Mr.Prakash Adiapadam, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in C.M.P.No.10439 and 10445 of 2025 and Mr.T.S.Vijaya Raghavan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in W.M.P.No.11037 of 2024 and perused the materials available on record.

(2.) The present lis arising out of sectarian dispute between two religious groups called 'Thengalai' (hereinafter referred to as 'Southern Cult') and Vadagalai (hereinafter referred to as 'Northern Cult'), regarding Ceremonial Worship in famous Temple called 'Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple' at Kancheepuram. The sectarian dispute between Southern and Northern Cults has got a long history of over 200 years. The rights of the respective cults were determined and adjudicated upon by this Court in various decisions. Inspite of the same, the differences between them continued and the present litigations are only the offshoot of earlier litigations. The dispute between Southern Cult and Northern Cult revolves around the duties attached with office (known as Adhiapaka Mirasi) or official performance of certain services to the Deity at the time of Ceremonial Worship in the Temple and at the time of Ceremonial Procession of the Deity inside and outside the Temple. The Members of Southern Cult claims that they have got right to Office of Adhiapaka Miras in the Temple of Sri Devaraja Swamy and as a necessary consequence, only their Mantram in praise of their Guru 'Sri Manavala Mamunigal' namely Sri Sailesa Dayapatram shall be sung before commencement of recitation of Nalayira Divya Prabandham during Ceremonial Worship of Deity in the Temple. They also claim that at the time of conclusion of Puja, only their Vazhi Thirunamam referring to Sri Manavala Mamunigal shall be recited. The said claim of Southern Cult is opposed by members of Northern Cult by claiming that they are also entitled to recite their Mantram Ramanuja Deyapatram praising their Guru namely Vedanta Desigan. It is also claimed by the Northern Cult that at the time of conclusion of Puja, their own Vazhi Thirunamam referring to their Guru namely 'Vedanta Desika' shall be recited. This is the crux of the dispute between the Members of the two cults.

(3.) Both Southern Cult and Northern Cult are followers of Ramanuja. However, they claim under different spiritual Gurus. The Members of the Southern Cult are following the teachings of Manavala Mamunigal. The Members of the Northern Cult are following the teachings of Vedanta Desikan. They also use different Insignia (xxx). The Southern Cult uses 'Y' shaped Insignia and the Northern Cult uses 'U' shaped Insignia. Though both the Cults are followers of Ramanuja, during Ceremonial Worship of God, they wanted to invoke their respective Guru and conclude the same by reciting verses in praise of their respective Guru. Therefore, there has been a continuous friction between these two factions and there were lot of litigations. Series of judgments passed by different Hierarchies of Courts including this Court right from the beginning of 19th Century did not stop these rival groups from continuing the litigation in one form or other. The present litigation is arising out of the latest friction between these two groups.