New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the ‘Udayasthamana Puja’, performed on the occasion of Ekadashi at Kerala’s famous Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, will be held as per tradition on December 1st. The court clarified that no changes or interference can be made to this puja. This puja is a special religious ritual that continues from sunrise to sunset, consisting of 18 consecutive pujas, homas, abhishekam, and other rituals.
The decision was delivered by a bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi. They stated that this puja has been performed traditionally since 1972 and any change in it is unacceptable. The Supreme Court directed all parties to complete their arguments and scheduled the next hearing in the case for March 2026.
Supreme Court’s Displeasure with Devaswom Administration
Last year, the Supreme Court strongly criticized the Devaswom administration of the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple. Citing crowd management, the administration had decided not to perform this puja. The court strongly objected to this, stating that it was inappropriate to break a centuries-old tradition.
The court also questioned the temple’s chief priest as to how he accepted this change, even though he himself had stated in a 1996 article that the Guruvayur Temple’s worship system was prescribed by the Vedanta philosopher Adi Shankaracharya and that any deviation from it was unacceptable.
Tradition and Religious Significance
The term “Udayasthamana Puja” means continuous worship from sunrise (Udaya) to sunset (Astamana). On this day, special devotional offerings and yagna-pujas are held throughout the day dedicated to Lord Sri Krishna. This tradition is deeply rooted in the faith of devotees and is considered one of the most sacred occasions. This puja on Guruvayur Ekadashi holds immense religious and cultural significance.
Supreme Court’s stance on the petition
The matter arose during the hearing of a petition filed by PC Harry and other family members holding priestly rights. The petitioners argued that Ekadashi is the most important festival at the temple and that the ‘Udayasthamana Puja’ has been performed continuously since 1972. They claimed that the tradition dates back even earlier.
They argued that Adi Shankaracharya had established these rituals and that any deviation from them could affect the ‘divine power’ or ‘consciousness’. The Supreme Court accepted this argument and clearly stated that changes to the traditional worship method are unacceptable.