According to the petitioner, Hindu Temples Protection Committee, the HR&CE Commissioner, obviously acting under instructions from the Government, has ordered the archakas

and gurukkals

in Hindu temples to perform archanas

only in Tamil. Persons in charge of the temples were compelled to do Kumbabishekams also in Tamil and forced to give up the age-old practice of rituals and chanting of vedic mantras and to substitute them with Tamil pasurams.

In many cases, the archakas

and gurukkals

are threatened to observe the new practice. The language cannot change and newrecitals cannot be called as mantras

. Sanskrit is supposed to be the language to communicate with God. Therefore, change in language goes to the root of the basic faith and belief of Hindus throughout the country. This cannot be perpetrated against the temples.

Similarly, the department ordered that there should be six time poojas in temples where there were only four time poojas. This was done to augment the income. The action of the department is only on the basis of political and commercial considerations. It is very unfortunate that the authorities are posing threat to the basic structure of temple worship. The action of the department is unlawful and beyond its jurisdiction.

According to Agama Sastras

, the worship in a temple shall be strictly in accordance with the objects for which it was initially installed. It cannot be changed for any reason. The department is interfering with the day-to-day religious observance of temples, transgressing its limits and powers, petitioner contendedand sought to restrain it from interfering with the functioning of the temples.