Help Save Kambliswami Madam

We the undersigned petition you, the Chief Minister of the Government of Pondicherry to enter into a dialogue with Dr. Ananda Balayogi Giri, the present head of Sri Kambliswami Samadhi, and interested persons of repute who support his vision to create a monument to Yoga and Indian Culture at Sri Kambliswami Samadhi. We request you to sincerely work towards a mutual consensus for this project that will see a final resolution to this ongoing legal dispute.


ABOUT SRI KAMBLISWAMI MADAM:
Sri Kambliswami Madam (Samadhi) was established 135 years ago with the internment of the Digambari Sannassyi Sri Kambliswamigal in Samadhi (burial chamber) on the premises. The land at the Madam Samadhi is a private property passed by means of Notarized Will from Swamiji to Swamiji from that time to present date. To date there have been eight Swamijis in the lineage from Kambliswamy, whose samadhis are also located on this site.

BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
An attempt was made by the Government of Pondicherry, India, to take over the Sri Kambliswami Samadhi site in 1986 under the Hindu Religious Institutions Act. This take over was struck down by a single bench of Chennai High Court on December 10/1986. An appeal filed by the Pondicherry Government was struck down in June 2001 by the Division Bench of the Chennai High Court, upholding the sole rights for Pujas and administration by the appointed Swamiji of the Kambliswami lineage.

The appeal by the Pondicherry Government against those judgments has been pending in the Supreme Court of India since 2001.

CURRENT SITUATION:
A final decision on the case will be made in the Supreme Court of India in March of 2009.

PROPOSAL BY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS OF SRI KAMBLISWAMI:
The present holder of the lineage, Dr. Ananda Balayogi Giri, has expressed a desire to undertake a dialogue with the Pondicherry Government to enter into a joint public/private sector enterprise on the land of Sri Kambliswami Madam. His proposal is to erect a Yoga University on the property, with a wide curriculum cored in Ashtanga Yoga. The cultural arts of Bharat Natyam and Carnatic Music, Sports Yoga Therapy, Yoga Therapy, Yoga Psychology, Yoga Management, and numerous other related subjects to Yoga would be offered.

WHY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT:
Though we are eager to hear the apex courts verdict on the matter, we also realize that even if we win, the Government of Pondicherry may try to take over the Sri Kambliswami Madam land under other laws, leading to continuing court proceedings.

Why should the politicians be so interested? Well, money and power. Lots of both are there. Conservative estimates of land value of this five acres is about five million dollars!

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION:
Please take a moment to add your support to our petition encouraging the Chief Minister of Pondicherry to engage us, the caretakers and lineage of Sri Kambliswami Madam, in constructive dialogue to reach an amicable solution to this matter once and for all.