Srirangam Temple Abaranam shortfall Priests' letter

The Hereditary Priests of the Ranganathaswamy temple have today written to the HR & CE EO requesting him to source the Original Abaranams that can be used on specific occasions during the Utsavams

Will the JC take immediate action to get the original decorative ornaments for the utsava deity

During the Era Pathu utsavam last month at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, issues were raised about priests using artificial decorative ornaments on Namperumal against the historical practice. When the issue was thus raised in public, the HR & CE representatives, as has been the case in the past, passed on the responsibility to the priests. When this writer enquired about this during the Era Pathu utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/12/srirangam-era-pathu-vedu-pari-2023.html), a hereditary priest said that original decorative pieces were not available at the temple. 

In response to the issues raised during the Adyayana utsavam, the hereditary priests of the temple today (Saturday - Feb 15) sent an official letter to the EO of the temple. In the letter,  the priests have pointed out the list of decorative ornaments that are not part of the jewellery kit and the originals of those that have to be sourced.

HR & CE to source original ornaments

Some of these include original kavariman sowri, Chandira-Surya Netri Chutti (an ornament on the forehead), Netripattai, Muththupattai, Kondaipattai for Perumal and Nal Muthu Paavadai for Ranganayaki Thayar. 

Previous Priests' letters went unattended!!!

This is not the first time that the hereditary priests have brought this to the notice of the HR & CE officials. Even in the past, in the years goneby, they had pointed out to the JC of the temple about the shortfall in ornaments that are draped on Namperumal on specific utsavam occasion but the HR & CE did not take any action on this front.

This Saturday evening, the priests have once again officially requested the EO of the temple to source the specific original ornaments for Namperumal and Ranganayaki.

While the HR & CE officials have conveniently passed on the buck to the priests when issues are raised by the public regarding alankaram of Namperumal during processions, they have not acted upon the requests of the very same priests in the past. 

In the recent past, two exorbitantly expensive kreedam and diamond necklace (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/srirangam-panguni-uthiram-2024.html) were presented to the temple and those were draped on Namperumal on the occasion of Kaisika Ekadasi and the 2nd day of the Era Pathu utsavam.

It is hoped that JC Mariappan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/12/srirangam-temple-jc-mariappan.html) who has generally been swift in taking appropriate action will initiate the process of sourcing the ornaments immediately so the original ornaments can be draped on Namperumal and the priests can be saved the embarrassment of facing awkward questions from the devotees. 

The HR & CE has also been silent in the recent past on the delayed conduct of utsavams and return of Namperumal arising out of longish presentation of Veda Vinnappam, the most recent being on the 7th day (night!!!) of the Thai Bhoopathi Thirunaal.

This section will track the action of the HR & CE on this front.