In an unprecedented move that has sparked widespread discussion, the historic Someshwara Temple in Bengaluru's Ulsoor area has officially stopped conducting wedding ceremonies. The temple authorities made this revelation in a formal response dated November 25, 2025, after the Karnataka Chief Minister's Office sought clarification regarding a complaint from a citizen who was denied wedding services.
The Real Reason Behind The Wedding Ban
The temple committee's chief administrative officer, V Govindaraju, provided startling insights into their decision. "Courts frequently direct priests to appear before them during divorce proceedings," Govindaraju explained to The Indian Express. The authorities expressed deep concern about couples who elope from home and present fake documents to get married, only to have their parents file court cases later.
Though the temple had previously conducted between 100-150 weddings, they decided to stop this practice 6-7 years ago to prevent what they term as "untoward incidents" that could damage the temple's reputation. The temple management had orally informed department officials about this policy change, but it came into sharp focus only after the recent complaint to the CMO.
Shocking Incidents That Forced The Decision
Govindaraju recalled several disturbing incidents that influenced their decision. One particularly tragic case from 11 years ago involved a known criminal from Vasanth Nagar who came to the temple with a woman and got married. "Two days later, we discovered the woman was already married without obtaining legal divorce from her first husband. The first husband subsequently hacked the new groom to death," Govindaraju revealed.
In this horrific case, the temple priests had to attend court proceedings as marriage witnesses. Another instance required a priest to travel to Hyderabad to attend court cases related to a marriage conducted at their temple. These legal complications and the potential danger to individuals involved made the temple authorities reconsider their role in conducting weddings.
Government Stance and Future Implications
Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department Minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed that the government had stopped such practices some time ago. "There are issues with these individual marriages, which is why the government stopped the practice long ago," Reddy stated. He highlighted problems with forged documents as a primary concern.
The minister revealed that the BJP government in 2011 had issued a circular directing an end to such practices. However, the government continues to support mass marriage events, with Reddy noting that 42 temples across Karnataka conducted such ceremonies last year.
Despite the official stance, department sources indicated that some temples still conduct weddings after proper verification and in the presence of parents, allowing priests to earn additional money. "This was never an issue until the Someshwara temple episode came to light. Now, the department may issue a new circular to clarify the position," an official disclosed.
The Someshwara Temple, which falls under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department of the Karnataka government, continues to be a place of worship while maintaining its controversial stance on wedding ceremonies, setting a precedent that might influence other temples across the state.
