Even as the State government has big plans to develop temples with rich past to promote temple tourism, many of them, including the Endowments Department itself, do not have Stapathis, who oversee a plethora of affairs related to shrines, with temple planning as per agama and vastu sastras topping the bill.
In the aftermath of bifurcation, the existing Stapathi post of the united AP was allocated to Telangana, which has less number of temples when compared to the rest part of the divide. The Telangana government readily appointed Sundararajan, an experienced hand, as Stapathi though he had retired from services.
Consequently, there is no Stapathi for Andhra Pradesh now. But interestingly, there is no such post in the existing administrative set-up here. Now, the Deputy Stapathi is monitoring the day-to-day affairs in the Endowments department, sources say.
The existing set-up is reflective of the state of affairs in the Endowments Department and majority of the temple in AP has no Stapathis and their duties are being discharged by the deputy Stapathis at present.
The downfall of the Stapathi post began, employees feel, with the closure of Silpa Kalasala run by Endowments Department in mid 80s and ban on further recruitments. The government did not fill up the vacant Stapathi posts. Not less than 16 posts are lying vacant now.
T. Rambrahmachary, S tapathi of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam in Vijayawada, feels that the government should fill the vacant Stapathi posts immediately for better management of temples.
Speaking to The Hindu, Endowments Minister P. Manikyala Rao said that the government would create the Stapathi post in AP soon and fill it by promoting a Deputy Stapathi . Exercise is on to fill the vacancies, he said.
The temples under the purview of RJC (Regional Joint Commissioner) of Endowments Department such as Srisailam, Kanipakam, Kasapuram, Penuganchiprolu have no Stapathis . But, their duties are being discharged by outsourced consultants.
History of Stapathi post dates back to 60s. Then State government created Stapathi post after noted sculptor S.M. Ganapathi had constructed a Kalyana Mandapam at Midhila Stadium in Bhadrachalam in 1967. Since then, many stalwarts such as Perumallacharya, M. Vallinayagan had brought laurels to the department as Stapathis.
