The Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam has issued a code of conduct for religious and administrative staff, detailing the Dos’ and ‘Don’ts on the temple premises.
Temple executive officer Ch. Narsing Rao on Monday, citing a circular issued by the AP Dharmika Parishad in 2011, said it had been made mandatory for the temple staff to wear white shirt and dhoti. They should also sport a ‘tilak’. Smoking and use of zarda and gutka have been prohibited, he added. The EO said staff, including archakas and Vedic scholars, should strictly follow Vedic rules. “They should wear a ‘yagnopaveetha’, sikha and clothing as prescribed in religious texts,” he added. Moreover, Vedic scholars should recite Vedas for six hours a day at the temple. They will not be allowed to attend private functions conducted outside the temple. “The archakas’ behaviour should be in tandem with agama sukti, Archakah sah harih sakshat cha roopi na samsaya (undoubtedly an archaka is walking God),” he said.
It is now mandatory for the temple staff to wear white shirt and dhoti
