The Hindu : Front Page : Bank accounts frozen, Kanchi Mutt in a quandary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 14, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Bank accounts frozen, Kanchi Mutt in a quandary

By V. Jayanth and V. Venkatasubramaniam

CHENNAI, JAN. 13. With the freezing of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt's bank accounts, reportedly all over the country by the Tamil Nadu police, the Mutt's functionaries and those running the associated institutions are breaking their heads on how to continue with their administration. The hospitals and educational institutions may be the worst-hit, not to speak of the Mutt and its branches.

According to the Mutt's counsel, A. Shanmugam, an estimated 183 bank accounts of the Mutt and its trusts have been frozen without even any notice. It was only when some cheques bounced that the Mutt realised what was happening.

Following the arrest of the Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, in November 2004, senior staff of the Mutt, notably its manager Sundaresa Iyer and the Accountant Viswanathan, were taken into custody. The Mutt has appointed Pollachi Mahadeva Iyer to manage its affairs. Those in charge of the management are now trying to come up with both interim and lasting solutions to the problem.

Financial crunch

According to Mutt sources, although every activity is important, priority will have to be given to the daily pujas to be performed not only by the Sankaracharya, but in all branches, along with the running of the medical and educational institutions. Aside from the salaries, the purchase of medicines, maintenance of the premises, food and educational aids for students in schools have to be provided for. There is also a wide range of social activities initiated by the Mutt, which will now face a severe financial crunch.

Given the situation, the Mutt does not want to embarrass patrons who may not want to attract police attention. It looks to voluntary contributions to help run all the institutions. With the cash on hand, the institutions may manage for the next couple of days, but anything beyond that will be a problem.

One of the ardent devotees, who has been to Kalavai to seek the blessings of the Sankaracharya, said: "It was a pathetic sight. None of the usual, familiar faces were seen. The staff and volunteers who were there very hesitantly approached some of the known followers of the Mutt for any contribution to continue with the pujas and the running of the establishment there. There was silence all round. Normally, during half the time taken for the nearly one-and-a-half hour Chandramouliswara puja, devotees can have darshan. But today it was just for the beginning and the end. They are afraid the police may enter any time and disrupt the puja."

Alternative strategy

A team of devotees and lawyers is, however, busy chalking out an alternative strategy to maintain as much of the Mutt's activities and programmes as possible. Its hope is that the followers will stand by the institution in this hour of crisis.

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