Excessive Dakshina demand: Kukke Subramanya Temple priest suspended

Team Udayavani, Aug 16, 2024, 3:28 PM IST

A priest at the renowned Kukke Subramanya Temple has been suspended following allegations of demanding excessive dakshina (offerings) from devotees during the Sarpa Samskara ritual.

Recently, a group of devotees from Andhra Pradesh visited the temple to perform the Sarpa Samskara ritual. After the ritual was completed, the devotees offered dakshina to the priest, Shiv Prakash Pandelu as per their tradition.

However, the priest reportedly became upset, claiming that the amount was insufficient, and angrily pushed aside the offering.

The devotees complained about the priest’s behavior with the temple’s administrative officer. Since similar allegations had been made against the priest in the past, the authorities decided to suspend him from his duties.