The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Acharya's arrest shocks SC, ST in Nagapattinam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Acharya's arrest shocks SC, ST in Nagapattinam

More policemen being brought to a Kancheepuram court, where the Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, was produced there on Friday. — Photo: A. Muralidharan

PORAYAR, NOV. 19. The arrest of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, in a murder case has shocked the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people of four hamlets in Nagapattinam district.

Natesan, head of the Kattunayakkans, said the Acharya had helped the 50-odd families of the Kattunayakkans on Santhaveli Street to construct a temple in their locality in 1992. As they did not have funds, they wrote to him seeking help. Sri Jayendra Saraswathi immediately sent a delegation from the Mutt to help them, he said.

Within six months they built a temple with the liberal donation from the Mutt. The Kaliyamman idol was presented by the Sankaracharya, Natesan said.

"The Sankaracharya himself explained to me the right way of worshipping the deity. While some local people view us as unclean, the Sankaracharya treated us with dignity. When I approached the Mutt recently to perform the second Kumbabishekam, the Swamigal sanctioned Rs. 10,000 immediately. This temple is here only because of him. We are deeply pained to hear the recent developments. We pray for the Sankaracharya's release," he said.

In the nearby Bhudanoor village, 200 Adi Dravida families also received help from the Acharya to construct a temple. He had also donated an idol.

The 50 Dalit families of Rajivpuram near Porayar, where the construction of a Salai Kayiyamman temple is under way, also air similar sentiments. — PTI

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