Present Day Administration

Adavalleswarar temple and Arulala Perumal Temple at Munnur have properties worth several lakhs of rupees obtained by way of munificent donations by philanthropists. These properties help the temple to maintain itself properly and efficiently. The endowments have been properly supervised and maintained over the years. The income is recovered duly so that the daily pujas and the annual festivals are duly and properly performed.

Whenever the temples fell into disrepair, the administration of the temple attended to it then and there and got it repaired. These temples have been duly renovated from time to time. Kumbabhisheka was also performed. The Adavalleswarar temple Kumbabhisheka was performed with due grandeur on 1978. Arulala Perumal temple Kumbabhisheka was performed on 24.01.2011.

In these temples there are 12 employees engaged in different services. Even though there are Brahmins and Non-Brahmins among them, every one of them invariably belongs to Hindu religion. They have been classified as Spiritual staff, Administrative staff and Manual staff according to their respective duties.

Archakas belonging to the Brahmin community are employed to render spiritual service to the deities of these temples such as abhisheka, chanting of mantras and worshipping. In Munnur temples, there are four archakas in each temple service. They render service by working for 15 consecutive days in turn (murai).Such a time limit has been set so that when one of them is rendering service, the others are at rest. However, when there is pressure of work as in festival time, they work together. Further, whenever there is a need, additional archakas are employed on a temporary basis.

There is an executive officers appointed by the H.R. & C.E. Department supervises these temples management and the works of the temple staff. They are the only government officers in these temples. Their posts are non-hereditary. Their tenure of office is three years. Thus have to attend to the work of protecting and safeguarding the temple buildings and properties maintaining the traditions recognized by the temple, meeting the expenses of religious functions and festivals, and contributing to the development of the Hindu social, cultural, educational and other needs.

It is within his authority to fix the charges for the temple festivals and to fix the ratio out of the amount to be paid to the archakas and to the other office bearers of the temple. He will enforce the conditions imposed by the commissioner of H.R. & C.E. He will subject himself to the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Act 1977, maintain the secular administration of the temple smoothly, function within the ambit of the lawful directions and guidelines of the authority in order that the objectives and traditions of the religious endowments are fulfilled, and manage the funds and properties of the temple with prudence and care.

The accountant of this temple looks after the income and expenditure of the temple. His duties comprise preparing bills for the salary of the temple staff, maintaining the accounts of cash, paddy, straw and grains obtained from the devotees as gift (kanikkai), collecting rents from the houses belonging to the temple collecting the lease amounts from lands belonging to the temple, collecting the income from other sources, recording and safeguarding registers relating to movable and immovable properties of these temples and the like. His salary is also paid from the income of these temples.

A Board of Trustees comprising five members to assist the Executive officer will be appointed by the Assistant Commissioner of the Department for a period of three years on the recommendation of the Local Area Committee on each temple. These persons shall be resident within the village Munnur.

There are seven employees in the temple doing manual service. One of them is araimeikkaval (store keeper). The ornaments and jewels of gold and silver, bronze articles and the utensils are kept under his care and control. There are two sweepers to clean the entire premises of each temple. Tirumalaitiruvilaku is a servant whose duty is to collect the flowers from nandhavanam (flower garden) and weave them in to garlands and supply the same to the temple. He has to attend to the lighting works in the temple.

The administration of these temples is carried on by Mrs. Muthulakshmi, the Executive officer with her assistance and help of the other staff of the temple. The religious and secular traditions to be followed in the temple are being followed with due care and the temples are being maintained properly. The management of the temples look after the daily maintenance. The administration is carried on under the directions of the Deputy Commissioner H.R. & C.E., Villupuram, with the help and consent of the local leaders.

The Executive officers shall in the name of, the Joint Commissioner, H.R. & C.E., Villupuram, appoints the accountant, archakas, paricharakasl, oduvar, instrumental vidvans, araimeikkaval, tirumalaitiruvilakku, thalayari, temple sweeper, cattle shed sweeper, garden watchmen and other inner and outer employees of each temple.

The authorities of these temples maintain the accounts relating to the properties. Accounts of every day are completed on the same day itself. The Board of Trustees before the end of March every year submits the statement of income and expenditure for the previous Fasli year in the prescribed perform to the Commissioner for his approval and orders. The Board of Trustees maintains the accounts relating to the receipt of revenue and expenditure of these temples. The account is maintained for every Fasli year. Such accounts are subject to the audit of the government.

Thus, the administrations of these temples have been maintained very well right from the Cholas period till now. The temple management have been taking every effort to augment the income of the temple which is showing a downward trend.