Sri Ekambaranathar temple authorities performed the balalayam ritual in Kancheepuram on Sunday before the Sri Somaskandar and goddess Yelavarkuzhali Amman idols were handed over to the Idol Wing CID for investigation into the alleged gold embezzlement case registered against them.
The investigation by the Idol Wing police follows a complaint that the temple authorities embezzled gold while making the panchaloka idols of Sri Somaskandar and goddess Yelavarkuzhali. The complaint was lodged by a devotee at a court in Kancheepuram last year.
After conducting certain tests using advanced technologies, the Idol Wing CID concluded that there was no trace of gold in the newly made idols. In connection with the case, the police arrested M. Kavitha, Additional Commissioner (Thiruppani), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Board [since suspended] in April this year. Apart from Ms. Kavitha, Annamalai, the complainant, had named the temple’s executive officer Murugesan; HR&CE chief sculptor (sthapathi) M. Muthiah; another sculptor Masilamani; and six other persons.
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Last week, the temple staff received a letter from the Idol Wing CID stating that the Somaskandar and Yelavarkuzhali Amman idols were to be handed over to them, after performing the required rituals, by October 25 so that they could be produced at the court in Kumbakonam where the idol theft and other related cases were being heard.
Hence, the balalayam rituals were performed to “transfer the divine power from the sanctified idols on to the images of Somaskandar and Yelavarkuzhali on fig tree planks”.