Two separate bits of news on Pages 11 and 6 above respectively in THE HINDU today dt.12 Dec caught my attention while reading the newspaper this morning, since both these great temples in the state of Tamil Nadu occupy a very preeminent position in the hearts and minds of all Vaishnavite devotees and pilgrims all across the country and the world…. And I too am a proud and albeit “Unknown Sri Vaishnava” myself …
Regarding the Sri Rangam temple first . The published news in the HINDU is that Zakir Hussain, a well-known young Bharatanatyam artiste ( http://www.sabhash.com/artist/128/zakir-hussain.htm) was physically obstructed from entering the temple by an equally well-known Sri Rangam-based temple-tradition rights-activist, Sri Rangarajan Narasimhan
Rangarajan Narasimhan, who was named by Hussain, is an activist based out of Srirangam fighting to free temples across Tamil Nadu from government control. In a Twitter post, Narasimhan admitted that he stopped “Hussain, a Muslim” from entering the temple … https://mobile.twitter.com/OurTemples?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
“This guy, Zakir Hussain, a Muslim by birth and practice and who abuses Sanathana Dharmis in his Facebook/Twitter was seen inside Srirangam Temple today. I had to show him the door. Archakas of this temple have no sense whatsoever? If he wants to claim to be an SD, why didn’t he convert?” he asked. (Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/bharatanatyam-dancer-stopped-from-entering-temple-in-tns-srirangam-1059788.html)
The temple management however said (unnamed spokesperson) none from the administration side stopped Hussain from entering the premises and declared that it was “ready to welcome him anytime.”
Now, regarding the Tirumala Temple . The news item published in the HINDU reports that the Chairman of the Temple Executive Administration, the TTD, has said that “free Darshan” of the Deity via a special temple-portal called Vaikunta Dwaara would be specially provided at the temple to members of certain notified communities of society for 10 days this month.
Now what do I as an ordinary, Unknown Sri Vaishnava make of all this ruckus and rancour in two temples that are dear to me personally , especially since I am a native of one of them in Tirupati?
Here is what I feel …
The entry of peoples into Hindu temples is unrestricted under the Constitution of India and state laws for all persons who openly profess adherence to the Hindu faith. There can be no argument against the Constitution.
I know for a fact that entry into the Tirumala temple is allowed by the administration to even non-Hindu foreigners and aliens provided they voluntarily and willingly sign a register maintained by the temple authorities for that very purpose in which the person declares himself to be a Hindu and to be abiding by the tenets of the Hindu faith.
I do not know if such a procedure is extant in the Sri Rangam temple but even if it does not exist , it behooves any non-Hindu or non-believer wishing to enter the temple to openly first openly declare that he adheres to and abides by Hinduism as a religion.
There is no need for any official register to be kept at the Sri Rangam temple for the purpose. All that Zakir Hussain needed to have done before entering the temple was to have posted a Tweet or Facebook or Meta Post declaring he abides by Sanatana Dharma and no one, not even Rangarajan Narasimhan, could’ve objected to him gaining unrestricted entry into the temple.
If Zakir Hussain failed to make such a public declaration, he then really has no genuine business inside a hallowed place of worship where Hindus congregate before their Deity. A temple is no more a touristic spot than a mosque, church or synagogue or gurdwara is …. And most importantly, our Hindu temples are not potential battlegrounds where anyone or everyone can barge or amble in just to assert so-called “constitutional rights” or to make strident token or woke political statements. We humble Hindus go to temples to only pray and seek human salvation … just as you, Mr.Hussain, go to the mosque to seek the blessings of Allah, the merciful and beneficent.
But Zakir Hussain has publicly stated that “I am a Sri Vaishnavite by faith”. The matter should therefore end there as far he is concerned and his entry into the temple cannot be faulted . Please watch this video https://youtu.be/X999RELxOgo
Now, let me turn to the TTD notification . It leaves me aghast by it’s blatantly casteist and bigoted undertone! By all means please do provide “free Darshan through Vaikunta dwaara” of the temple to one and all Hindus . But why create a sort of “Reservation Policy” by announcing that the privilege will be provided to certain specifically named categories of castes and groups in Hindu society? What on earth are you trying to prove here Mr.TTD ?! That you too are a great conscientious social reformer in the political sphere of the State of Andhra Pradesh ? It seems to me you are eager only to try and please your political masters and are so are bending over backwards helping them pander to their very own electoral constituencies by bowing and scraping at their feet … when you as temple administrator are expected to bow to none but the Deity Sri Venkateshwara ?
My own humble and sincere advice as an ordinary Unknown Sri Vaishnava to Zakir Hussain is finally this: Sir, You live in a secular country. Please learn to extend minimum respect and courtesies to your Hindu brethren of India …. the very same that you would expect too to be given to any other religious institutions by one and all in this country. You can help prevent this ugly and unnecessary controversy die tomorrow morning by simply reposting on social media your affirmation that “by faith you are a Sri Vaishnava” and also declare that it is going to be the very last time you will ever affirm it and there will be no need in future to keep repeating it every time you visit Sri Rangam or any other temple in the country”.
My advice to the TTD of my native homestead, Tirupati: Please stop trying to ingratiate your political masters … instead please realise that your one and only true master is the Almighty Deity who from within the portals of the Vaikunta Dwaara presides and rules over all of us.
Sudarshan Madabushi
PS: In Sri Rangam town back in the 1970s there lived the famous Carnatic music artiste, “naagaswaram vidwaan” , “Sheikh Chinna Moulaana”. He was a Muslim in name but he openly professed his faith in Sri Ranganatha Perumal the temple Deity. He was an honoured member of the Sri Rangam temple laity and the local community who welcomed him there.