The footfalls at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam, one of the major temples after Tirumala, increased to 84.20 lakh in 2017-18 from 57.50 lakh in 2013-14. The devotee turnout, donations, and gifts are on rise. But, the temple often draws attention of the devotees and general public for the wrong reasons. From alleged tantrik rituals to construction of retaining wall to gold plating of vimana gopuram, many a time the issues have hit headlines.
Though not many controversies have been reported over deviation or violation from the rituals in the recent past, Kanaka Durga temple was in eye of storm in December last with allegations that tantrik rituals were performed atop Indrakeeladri.
Way back in 1998, burglar Prakash Kumar Sahu gained entry into temple and decamped with the crown and nose stud of the presiding deity. The then government constituted Justice Panduranga Rao Committee to probe the theft and recovery of the ornaments. The temple security has been a question since then though authorities have stepped up the vigil.
Leasing of lands
Leasing out of temple lands to the Siddhartha Academy of General and Technical Education remained a controversy. Nearly after a decade, when a House panel in combined Andhra Pradesh favoured increase in the lease amount being paid by the Academy, the State government regularised the amount in 2016. The Cabinet approved the proposal to increase the lease amount to ₹1.5 lakh per acre and revision of the amount by 5 per cent every three years.
The temple has 225 acres of land, including agricultural land, at various places. The temple Board recently decided to auction a few acres citing non-remunerative reasons. The Board decision raised many eyebrows and controversy is brewing up.
Retaining wall
The temple authorities spent more than ₹4 crore on the construction of 40-metre high retaining wall, which developed cracks even while the construction was on. It led to criticism from various quarters in early 2010 on its quality.
In 2000-2001, the temple authorities proposed decoration of ‘vimana gopuram’ with gold plates on the lines of the one at Tirumala. But, it landed in legal problems for various reasons, and work was stopped midway. The project was completed in 2009. The authorities have converted gold and silver ornaments donated by the devotees into gold and silver bars. The total gold monetised is 105.918 kg. The silver bars sold through MMTC was more than 1,123 kg. The temple still has 308 kg of silver bars.
Laddu quality
The temple’s assessable income touched ₹69.96 crore in 2018-19 from ₹43.96 crore in 2015-16. Quality of laddu prasadam is ever debatable. Insects stuck in laddu prasadam during Dasara festivities in 2016 created flutter. The devotees complain that the quality and quantity of laddu has dwindled.
Construction of guest rooms at C.V. Reddy Charities, Madapati Guest, Jammidoddi and other places also attracted criticism. The government has been using the guest houses/choultries as Endowments Department/temple offices. Consequently, devotees are left with very few rooms to stay.
Many officials, who worked here as EOs, had an “unceremonious exit”. It has been observed that the temple employees and priests put up a united face to fight against the EO. Many of the EOs landed in some controversy or the other compelling the government to shift out. Also, local politics have been fuelling controversies in the temple. A. Surya Kumari, Ch. Narsing Rao, Kokkiligadda Prabhakar Srinivas, M. Raghunath were a few EOs who were transferred.
