Hyderabad: The famous Kanaka Durga temple of Andhra Pradesh has found itself in the eye of a raging controversy after the revelation that in violation of rules and regulations some people opened its door after midnight and performed black magic rituals.
The incident, which occurred on the night of December 26, came to light after its video went viral on social media.
What gave a political twist to the incident was the allegation of the opposition YSR Congress that the rituals were organised to make Chief Miniter N Chandrababu Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh the next Chief Minister of the state. However, the ruling Telugu Desam party strongly denied it.
The Chief Minister then ordered the transfer of the Executive Officer of the temple Surya Kumari. She, along with the main priest of the temple Shiva Prasad Sharma, had initially denied any such incident.
The police have arrested seven people in connection with the incident. They include Ghantasala Pardhasaradhi, who had performed the rituals, main priest of the temple Badri Nath Babu, A Sujan of Guntur and four other priests.
During questioning the accused admitted they had performed the rituals in which the deity Durga’s appearance was changed to a more ferocious manifestation of Mahishasura. They also revealed that the rituals were performed for the good fortune of the Executive Officer Surya Kumari.
The incident at one of the most important temples in the state has left devotees as well religious authorities aghast and angry. The head of Visakha Sharada Peeth has angrily reacted to the incident and accused the government of misusing the temples. He said that a meeting of the religious pontiffs will be held soon and the government control over the temples will be challenged in the court. “For the last two years many unfortunate incidents have occurred at the Durga temple of Vijayawada. Performing Tantrik [black magic] rituals is shocking and it has hurt the sentiments of the devotees”, he said.
