In what seems to be another controversy of alleged tantric rituals in Andhra Pradesh, the surfacing of several videos and photos of tantric rituals being performed at Gopalapuram's Lord Bhairava Swamy temple has kicked up a storm in Visakhapatnam district.
Temple authorities have filed a case seeking action against those involved in the rituals. The visuals have outraged the devotees who have sought a probe into the incident.
The incident reportedly took place on the midnight of Thursday and made news, after the authorities lodged a complaint with the police.
Following a preliminary inquiry, authorities have identified priests in the temple who were responsible. Sri Varaha Lakshmi Nara Simha Devasthanam (SLND) temple body supervises the Bhairava Swamy temple. Executive Officer K Ramachandra Mohan has filed a complaint with Visakhapatnam police.
"In a written complaint, the temple EO (Executive Officer) asked us to bring out facts pertaining to the conduct of tantric rituals and unauthorised Homam and puja at Bhairava Swamy temple. We will nab the culprits soon," Gopalapauram Circle Inspector K Paidayya told TNIE.
Earlier, in a similar sequence of events that took place in Vijayawada's Kanaka Durga temple, EO Surya Kumari was sacked by the government following a probe by Police and Endowments Department. At that time, several reports in local media claimed that a tantric ritual took place after the temple was closed on Dec 26, 2017, with the knowledge of chief priest Badrinath Babu.
CCTV footage allegedly showed that the priests had decked up the presiding deity as Goddess Kali and performed ‘Bhairavi puja’ for more than two hours.