Why can’t AP relocate temples as in past?

“TDP- BJP tussle over temples…They announced that the demolished temples will be repaired and restored to their original shape. According to Manikyala Varaprasada Rao, Minister for Endowments, such a situation arose because of the over enthusiasm on the part of some officials” (Hans, June 4). This is with reference to the thoughtless removal of about 30-40 temples in Vijayawada.

Reportedly they are removed to widen the road and beautification of Vijayawada city. It is the centre of attraction as the City No.1 of the truncated AP. Further along with Srisailam, it is likely to attract most number of pilgrims during the Krishna Pushkaralu in the month of August. Construction of Amaravati, the capital nearby, and Pushakaralu are not the unforeseen events.

They have been in the news at least for two years. Then why this hurried and unannounced action? Development is a must, without offending the sentiments of the people. As a matter of fact: "Continuous change is the only eternity" (Perestroika). To improve the culture and economy of Egypt, the President, Col Nasser, had undertaken to construct the Aswan High Dam across the River Nile in 1950s. It was completed in 1970s.

Many Pyramids were to be submerged in the dam. All of them were transplanted. Some of them, gigantic in size were carefully cut and perfectly rearranged. When the Government of AP had undertaken the construction of Srisailam dam on the River Krishna, many temples at Sangameswaram, Vijayanagara and earlier style of architecture in Kurnool district and Jataprolu in Mahbubnagar district, in Vijayanagara style of architecture, were to be submerged.

A team of experts from the Roads and Buildings Department and Archeological Survey of AP were deputed to study the transplantation in Egypt. As per their report, a scheme was drawn. Stones in the structures were numbered in order, dismantled and re-erected in the same style and measurements, at Kurnool in Kurnool district. Similarly re-installed were temples at Alampur, Kollapur in Mahbubnagar district, such as Madhavaswmay, Kothajataprol, Agastyeswara, Bekkeswara and Jateswara temples, etc.

It is not possible for the naked eye to identify them as the rebuilt ones. As per the advice of Kanchi Paramacharya, one temple, known as Vepalingeswara Swamy, believed to have been consecrated by the Pandawas, was not removed and it has withstood the onslaught of water current for nearly four decades for about six months in a year. It surfaces when the reservoir recedes during the summer, and regular rituals are performed.
In the case of Vijayawada temples, there was an ample time of two years.

Temples dismantled are not of the size and the magnitude of the Sangameswara and Jataprolu cluster of Temples. All the temples removed are being regularly worshipped as per the Agama Sasthra. Either they are under the Endowment or some private trusts manage them. There are priests; devotees visit them regularly. Apart from the religious sentiments, there is Rule of Law. We are a democratic country. Even a rapist, dacoit, robber, murderer, killer and assassin are given an opportunity to express their defence.

Secularism is not atheism. Indian State as such does not believe in a particular religion. That means it respects all religious faiths. I hasten to add that, I do not subscribe to the allegations that the Hindu temples are singled out for demolition. It has to be verified. However, because of the hasty action, responsibility lies with the government to answer all the allegations.

Whether the gods are for the people or the people for the gods? Both are interdependent. The deities and those depending on them, the priests and the devotees, are now on the streets. Are they helpless mute spectators? Sri Krishna says: "When the Truth and the Dharma are being violated in the presence of the wise and the learned, if they keep quiet, it is a blot on them. Damage-controlling measures should be undertaken with all precautions.

By K C Kalkura