Source: G. K. Nair, HPI correspondent
CHIKMAGALUR, KARNATAKA, January 4, 2002: The Dattatreya temple here is under the possession of Muslims for many years. It functions like a mosque, except on the Hindu holiday of Dattatreya Jayanti in December, when Hindus come to pay homage to the original God of the temple. Hindus come on others days as well, even though the Muslim rituals are going on. Now there has been a move by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal to post a Hindu priest there and to recover the actual icon of Lord Dattatreya which is said to be in a cave inside the shrine. The three-day “Datta Jayanti” celebrations which concluded at the Dattatreya Peeta had more than 15,000 persons come in from all over the State to pay homage at the hilltop shrine.