Restore traditional rituals at Bhadrachalam Temple
The Issue
To,
The Honorable Chief Minister of Telangana State,
Sri A. Revanth Reddy Garu,
Respected Sir,
Subject: URGENT: Petition to Restore Traditional Rituals at Bhadrachalam Temple and Implement High Court Orders Amid Ongoing Contempt Proceedings.
We, the devoted followers of Bhadradri Rama Chandra, write to bring to your immediate attention a grave violation of historical traditions and judicial orders at the sacred Bhadrachalam Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy Temple—a heritage preserved since the era of Bhakta Ramadasu.
Despite years of peaceful protests and appeals by all devotees, the traditional Kalyanotsavam (wedding ceremony) has seen severe, unauthorized alterations. Most distressingly, the core spiritual identity of the deities is being systematically altered by addressing Lord Sri Ramachandra as Ramanarayana and Goddess Sita as Sitamahalakshmi.
The Precise Scriptural Deviations:
During the sacred wedding rituals, the authentic earthly lineages (gotra and pravara) established by our scriptures are being unlawfully substituted with alternate lineages in the interest of specific group.
For Lord Rama: The traditional Vashishta gotra and the pravara honoring his ancestors—Nabhagudu, Ajudu, and Maharaja Dasaratha—have been replaced with Narayana gotra and Narayana pravara.
For Goddess Sita: The traditional Gautama gotra and the pravara honoring her ancestors—Swarnaromudu, Hrasvaromudu, and Maharaja Janaka—have been replaced with the gotra and pravara of Goddess Lakshmi.
The History of Legal Escalation:
Faced with administrative apathy, devotees were forced to seek judicial intervention via a Writ Petition in the Telangana High Court in 2022.
April 2024: A Single Judge Bench directed the Principal Secretary of the Endowments Department (Smt. Shailaja Ramaiyer) to constitute a 5-scholar committee and submit a report within three months.
June 2024: The expert committee completed and submitted its report to the Principal Secretary.
February 2025: A Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice dismissed a Writ Appeal filed by the Chief Archaka, thereby validating the Single Judge's directive to address the ritual changes.
November 2025 – Present: Because the Endowments Department has failed to submit this report to the Court for over two years, a Contempt of Court case was filed against the Principal Secretary. Despite recent explicit court directives and subsequent legal notices, the report remains suppressed.
Our Earnest Appeal to Your Leadership:
The deliberate delay by the Endowments Department is not only an insult to the religious sentiments of millions of SriRama devotees but also a direct disregard for the judiciary. The rituals at Bhadrachalam represent the living history and spiritual fabric of Telangana and AndhraPradesh.
We urge you, as the head of the state, to immediately intervene, hold the concerned officials accountable, and ensure the immediate release and implementation of the 5-scholar committee report. We trust your governance to restore the centuries-old traditional rites, honor the true lineages of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita, and bring long-awaited solace to the community.
Kind Regards
373
The Issue
To,
The Honorable Chief Minister of Telangana State,
Sri A. Revanth Reddy Garu,
Respected Sir,
Subject: URGENT: Petition to Restore Traditional Rituals at Bhadrachalam Temple and Implement High Court Orders Amid Ongoing Contempt Proceedings.
We, the devoted followers of Bhadradri Rama Chandra, write to bring to your immediate attention a grave violation of historical traditions and judicial orders at the sacred Bhadrachalam Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy Temple—a heritage preserved since the era of Bhakta Ramadasu.
Despite years of peaceful protests and appeals by all devotees, the traditional Kalyanotsavam (wedding ceremony) has seen severe, unauthorized alterations. Most distressingly, the core spiritual identity of the deities is being systematically altered by addressing Lord Sri Ramachandra as Ramanarayana and Goddess Sita as Sitamahalakshmi.
The Precise Scriptural Deviations:
During the sacred wedding rituals, the authentic earthly lineages (gotra and pravara) established by our scriptures are being unlawfully substituted with alternate lineages in the interest of specific group.
For Lord Rama: The traditional Vashishta gotra and the pravara honoring his ancestors—Nabhagudu, Ajudu, and Maharaja Dasaratha—have been replaced with Narayana gotra and Narayana pravara.
For Goddess Sita: The traditional Gautama gotra and the pravara honoring her ancestors—Swarnaromudu, Hrasvaromudu, and Maharaja Janaka—have been replaced with the gotra and pravara of Goddess Lakshmi.
The History of Legal Escalation:
Faced with administrative apathy, devotees were forced to seek judicial intervention via a Writ Petition in the Telangana High Court in 2022.
April 2024: A Single Judge Bench directed the Principal Secretary of the Endowments Department (Smt. Shailaja Ramaiyer) to constitute a 5-scholar committee and submit a report within three months.
June 2024: The expert committee completed and submitted its report to the Principal Secretary.
February 2025: A Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice dismissed a Writ Appeal filed by the Chief Archaka, thereby validating the Single Judge's directive to address the ritual changes.
November 2025 – Present: Because the Endowments Department has failed to submit this report to the Court for over two years, a Contempt of Court case was filed against the Principal Secretary. Despite recent explicit court directives and subsequent legal notices, the report remains suppressed.
Our Earnest Appeal to Your Leadership:
The deliberate delay by the Endowments Department is not only an insult to the religious sentiments of millions of SriRama devotees but also a direct disregard for the judiciary. The rituals at Bhadrachalam represent the living history and spiritual fabric of Telangana and AndhraPradesh.
We urge you, as the head of the state, to immediately intervene, hold the concerned officials accountable, and ensure the immediate release and implementation of the 5-scholar committee report. We trust your governance to restore the centuries-old traditional rites, honor the true lineages of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita, and bring long-awaited solace to the community.
Kind Regards
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Petition created on August 11, 2026