Addressing Governance Challenges at Srisailam Devasthanam

I have been a regular visitor to Srisailam Devasthanam for decades. My attachment to this sacred place led me to request only one thing from my future father-in-law: to have my wedding at Srisailam. He agreed. Over the past decade, Srisailam has undergone several changes, some of which have not been favorable to long-time visitors like myself. As a result, I have reduced my visits to this beloved temple.

Despite changes in management, significant issues persist in Srisailam. Notably, there are substantial communication gaps between various departments within the temple. During my last visit for the Annual Saswatha Kalyanam, I encountered several instances of miscommunication. The temple information counter instructed us to report at 7 am for activities starting at 8:30 am. However, upon arrival, we were incorrectly informed by the guards that we were late. This confusion led to further complications, as we were directed to the wrong location because the mandapam was closed, and our children were left unattended in the hotel due to the early start.

After finding an official near the Abhishekham Hall, we were shocked to learn that the timings had been changed to 8:30 am, something the information counter was unaware of. This change significantly disrupted our plans, as we were unable to fetch our children in time.

At the Vruddha Mallikarjuna Swamy temple, we faced refusal for Abhishekham due to the altered schedule. Only after pleading with the priest, citing our situation with our young children, did he relent. Similar issues occurred at the Bhramaramba Matha temple, where priests initially refused to perform Kumkuma Pooja, citing traditions. It was only after threatening to report the communication breakdown to the endowment department that they complied.

Additionally, the restriction of Sparsa Darshan due to the increased number of devotees has been poorly communicated. On a visit in May, we were turned away for not having tickets, which we were unaware were needed. Contradictory information regarding free Sparsa Darshan further added to our confusion and disappointment.

The Prasadam Counters also demonstrated a lack of communication. I spent an hour moving between lines, not being informed of the unavailability of Pulihora Prasadam. A simple indication of stock levels could have saved significant time and frustration. While the quality of Pulihora has declined over the years, this is a broader issue across temples and not specific to Srisailam Devasthanam.

In the evening, we faced more miscommunication about the timings for Kalyanam. The delay in allowing us inside the Kalyana Mandapam resulted in our children getting hungry, and the limited availability of Prasadam further compounded the issue.

Srisaila Mallikarjuna Swamy is our patron deity, and I hope that the incoming government will address these governance imbalances at Srisailam Devasthanam. It is imperative for the temple authorities to improve communication between departments and ensure accurate information dissemination to devotees. The experience I had, where one department was oblivious to changes made by another, highlights the need for a more coordinated and responsive approach to temple management