The Supreme Court has intervened in a dispute over the cancellation of the Udayasthamana Pooja on Vrishchikam Ekadasi at the renowned Guruvayoor Sri Krishna Temple. The Guruvayoor Devaswom Board cited crowd management challenges as the reason for altering the centuries-old ritual. Despite the Kerala High Court upholding this decision, devotees challenged it, emphasizing the ritual’s spiritual significance and its establishment by Adi Shankaracharya.
A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Rajesh Bindal questioned whether public convenience could justify disrupting a ritual dedicated to the deity, suggesting alternative crowd-control measures instead. The Court has now issued a notice to the Devaswom Board and directed that no changes be made to the temple’s pooja schedule until a resolution is reached.
This ruling underscores the delicate balance between preserving ancient traditions and managing modern logistical challenges. The outcome could set a precedent for similar disputes in religious institutions across India.
