Supreme Court appoints retired judge S.K. Kaul to mediate Vadakalai -Thenkalai dispute at Kancheepuram temple

Supreme Court appoints retired Justice S.K. Kaul to mediate Vadakalai-Thenkalai worship dispute at Kancheepuram's Devarajaswamy Temple.

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday (January 28, 2026), asked former apex court judge, Justice (retd.) Sanjay Kishan Kaul, to mediate a dispute between the Thenkalai and Vadakalai Vaishnavite sects over the recitation of mantram and prabandham during ceremonial worship at Devarajaswamy Temple in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu.

Noting that all the equal are humble before God, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said both sects must try hard to reach an amicable resolution with the aid of the retired judge. The court said Justice Kaul could take the assistance of two persons well-versed with the religious, cultural and linguistic history of Tamil Nadu to aid him in the endeavour.

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“Tamil Nadu is a State where our heritage is well-maintained. Tamil Nadu is the showcase of Indian culture,” Chief Justice Kant remarked.

The order came in a petition filed by a Kancheepuram resident, S. Narayanan, represented by advocate G. Balaji, challenging a November 28, 2025 Madras High Court judgment restricting the Vadakalai sect from reciting two prayers - Ramanuja Dayapatram (verses in praise of their spiritual guru Sri Vedanta Desika) before the 4,000 Divya Prabandhams; and Vaazhi Thirunaamam at the end of the 4,000 Divya Prabandhams.