Bringing shame and disgrace to the 1,000-year-old Sri Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple in Melkote and the thousands of devotees who visit the temple annually, the High Priest of Cheluvanarayana Sannidhi has been accused of appropriating the deity’s precious gold ornaments gifted by a devotee four years ago.
The accused Narasaraja Bhat, the priest in the temple for past 15 years, is likely to be suspended on Wednesday. In her report, Pandavapura assistant commissioner R. Latha has accused Mr Narasaraja Bhat of misappropriating the temple’s assets, while recommending a CoD inquiry into the matter. She has also suspended the priest.
The allegation against the priest dates back to April 2009 when a devotee Murali Jaganath reportedly gifted the “utsavmurthi” Cheluvanarayana Swamy three ornaments — a Melaya Kavacha (upper body armour), Kelaya Kavacha (lower body armour) and a Paduka (footwear) — that was 1.2 kg gold and 3.7 kg silver. The ornaments were handed over to the priest. Instead of depositing the jewels in the treasury, he is alleged to have kept them at his residence.
When the locals in Melkote petitioned the then DC Maheshwar Rao, who in turn asked the Executive Officer of the temple to look into it, notices were served to all the priests in July 2009. The accused priest Mr Narasaraja Bhat immediately deposited the ornaments in the treasury.
However, during a government valuation of the pieces, the gold weight of the ornaments was recorded at 397 grams, which is 800 grams lower than the original weight.
The then Mandya DC Maheshwar Rao has asked the Pandavapura AC to conduct a detailed inquiry and submit a report.