HC appoints advocate commissioners to inspect ancient shrine

The Madras High Court today appointed two advocate commissioners to visit the 4000-year-old Adhikesava Perumal temple in Kanyakumari district and file a status report.
The court observed that renovation of the ancient shrine at Tiruvattar, which was pending for 13 years, was an important issue.
Justice R.Mahadevan, who was hearing a petition filed by M.Ayyappan, a devotee, directed him to provide transport facility for the advocate commissioners and posted the case for hearing to November 23.
The perusal of materials available with the court on record finds the ancient temple being ruined due to loss of attention to maintain the same properly, the judge said.

"Each and every temple in the state had a unique history and if there was any failure on our part to protect the temple,it would leave a mark on our culture," the judge said.
The judge said it was painful to note that the temple properties were not being maintained properly by authorities concerned and most of them would never come to limelight.

"But in this case the petitioner made an attempt to ring the bell to celebrate the consecration by following Agama rules and also protect its properties."
The petitioner submitted none of those involved in the renovation of the temple knew the agamas.

He prayed that the court direct authorities of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment department, including the secretary and commissioner, to constitute a committee of experts well-versed in agamas for renovation of the temple which had many unique carvings and sculptures.