madurai high court
Madurai: Madras high court has requested heads of kindred institutions to undertake the task of choosing the next pontiff of Sri Ramanuja Jeeyar Math, Kallalagar Temple in Alagarkoil in Madurai district, as the office of Jeeyar has been vacant for more than 80 years. A division bench of Justice G R Swaminathan and Justice P Murugan observed that even though there has been no jeeyar for Kallalagar Temple for the last 80 years, it is time to restore the said tradition. The last jeeyar was appointed in 1937. He appears to have vanished from the scene sometime in 1946.
Therefore, the jeeyar has to be housed within the temple campus. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Madurai | Silver Rate in Madurai | Bank Holidays in Madurai | Public Holidays in Madurai | Madurai AQI | Weather in Madurai | Petrol Price in Madurai | Diesel Price in Madurai | CNG Price in Madurai | LPG Price in Madurai Stay updated with the latest Madurai news.
“Since the successor can be chosen by the heads of the kindred institutions, we request the following persons, namely, Thirukurungudi Jeeyar Swamy, Alwarthirunagari Jeeyar Swamy and Periya Nambigal Swamy to undertake the task of choosing the next Pontiff of Arulmighu Sri Ramanuja Jeeyar Mutt, Kallalagar Temple, Madurai,” the judges observed. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by R Sathyanarayanan, who sought a direction to fill up the post. The judges observed that the settled custom followed for several centuries was that the jeeyar was the highest spiritual and administrative authority in managing the Kallalagar temple. The materials clearly delineate the role to be played by the jeeyar. The other staff including the priests are answerable to him. He has to be maintained out of the temple funds. “We express our sincere hope that this process will be fast-tracked and the Kallalagar Temple will have a jeeyar of eminence at the earliest. Once the choice is made, the department will formally issue proceedings recognising the same,” the judges observed and disposed of the petition. Download the TOI App.