The Supreme Court agreed to examine a plea challenging the Kerala High Court’s decision upholding the discontinuation of the Udayasthamana Pooja at Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple on Ekadashi, citing crowd management issues. The apex court issued notices to the temple management, the Kerala government, and the temple’s chief priest (Tantri), ordering no changes to the temple’s daily pooja schedule until further review.
As reported in India Today, a bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and Rajesh Bindal questioned the rationale behind the decision, emphasizing that the pooja honors the deity and should not be altered solely for public convenience. “This pooja is for the deity. The management can find ways to handle the crowd, but we need to examine if this reason is sufficient,” observed Justice Maheshwari.
The petitioners, members of the hereditary priestly family, argued that the Udayasthamana Pooja, a centuries-old tradition established by Adi Shankaracharya, is vital to the temple’s spiritual sanctity and cannot be skipped. They contended that discontinuing the ritual on Ekadashi undermines the temple’s revered practices.
On Guruvayur Ekadashi, two significant events take place: a memorial ceremony for Gajarajan Guruvayoor Kesavan and the renowned Chembai Sangeetholsavam music festival. As part of the memorial, the head elephant of the temple’s herd, known as the Karanavar, lays a wreath at the statue of Kesavan in front of the Sreevalsam Guest House, while the other elephants gather to show their respect.
On this sacred day, the Devaswom conducts the Udayasthamana Pooja, a ritual spanning from dawn to dusk. Following the morning Seeveli, a procession of elephants marches to the Parthasarathi Temple to mark Geethopadesam Day. In the evening, after the night pooja, the Vilakku Ekadashi procession, featuring beautifully adorned elephants, serves as the grand finale of the celebrations.
The temple administration, supported by the Tantri, defended the decision, asserting that the ritual was non-essential and was modified to manage large crowds and allow more devotees to participate in darshan. However, the Supreme Court bench expressed its preliminary satisfaction with the petitioners’ case, noting that the decision to skip the pooja raised serious questions about preserving tradition.
Udayasthamana Pooja involves continuous worship from sunrise (udaya) to sunset (asthamana) and is a key ritual at several temples. The Guruvayur temple’s management recently announced its suspension on Ekadashi, citing logistical challenges. The Kerala High Court had earlier dismissed objections, stating that the Tantri’s authority over temple rituals is final.
The Supreme Court, while unable to intervene immediately since the pooja had already commenced, ordered the current schedule as listed on the temple’s website to remain unchanged. A hearing on the matter is scheduled in four weeks.
