The feud between two factions of the Swaminarayan sect over the spiritual seat at Vadtal continues. In fact, it’s now spilling over to other temples in the region.
At the Vadodara Swaminarayan temple in Kalali village, followers of deposed Acharya Ajendraprasad got a stay against the entry of the Rakeshprasad faction into the temple premises and puja by them on Holi. The suit was filed by three followers of Ajendraprasad group, Devendra Patel, Vikesh Patel and Ashim Patel, against Rakeshprasad and his follower Kothari Harimukhguru who was appointed head priest a few months back.
The stay, imposed on March 15, bans the entry of the two into the temple till March 20. Counsel for the Ajendraprasad group followers, Narendra Tiwari, said as Ajendraprasad is still shown as head of the temple at the Charity Commissioner’s office, the court ordered the ban.
Meanwhile, a demand has been made for increased security at the temple. Vadodara Resident Deputy Collector D H Shah said a group of swamis had come with a memorandum, asking for increased security at the temple. ‘‘We have forwarded the demand to the District Superintendent of Police,’’ he said.
At the Vadtal gadi, a group of women devotees called tyaginis issued a notice to Nadiad administration, that they would sit on a three-day fast in front of the temple from Monday. Nadiad Collector Jayant Parimal said in response to the notice, they were given a written reply asking them to desist. ‘‘It is Holi time with purnima rush of devotees. We had some inkling of trouble during the festival and have upped security at the complex and in the town. Thankfully, the devotees heeded our request and will not sit on fast,’’ Parimal said. In related developments, the externment notice imposed on deposed achyarya Ajendraprasad after January fracas at the temple premises between the two opposing groups was lifted by the district administration.