The talk of the town in Bhadrachalam is the controversy surrounding the Gotra and reciting of Pravara of Lord Rama and Sita. Devotees are concerned about the sanctity of the temple being affected by dragging Gods into politics.
Allegations of religious irregularities have been made regarding the celestial wedding of Lord Rama, particularly changes in the Gotra and Pravara recited during the wedding ceremony on Ramanavami day. Instead of Lord Rama’s Gotra and Pravara, it is claimed that Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi’s Gotra and Pravara are being used, which is seen as a disrespect to religious beliefs.
A batch of writ petitions filed in the Telangana High Court prompted the appointment of a five-member expert committee by the state government to investigate the issue. Sthanacharyas, Chief Priests, Sub-Chief Priests, Vedic Scholars, and Sri Madramayana reciters have been asked to provide an explanation on the Gotra Pravaras of Sitaram.
According to Vedic scholar Annadanam Chidambara Sastry, the Gotra of Lord Rama is Vasista and the Pravara should be chanted as Nabhaga, Ajha, and Dasaratha. However, priests have been chanting Achyutha Gotram instead of Vasista and changing the Pravara. This practice started about a decade ago, with the priests chanting Ramanarayana more often than Ramachandra Swamy as an alternative name.
The Pravara of Ramanarayana is being chanted as Parabrahma Sarma, Vyuhanarayana Sarma, and Vibhava Vasudeva Sarma, names associated with Vishnu’s Pravara.
