Former Idol Wing Chief A.G. Ponn Manickavel has raised serious concerns about the state of temple management in Tamil Nadu. Speaking to the media after visiting the Akilandeswari-Jambukeswarar Temple in Thiruvanaikaval, Trichy, he criticized the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department for mismanaging temple funds.
According to Manickavel, temples across the state collect around ₹1.79 crore in donations each day amounting to nearly ₹53.7 crore every month all of which is taken by the HR&CE Department. Yet, despite this substantial revenue, basic infrastructure in temples remains severely lacking. He pointed out that nearly 90 percent of temples do not have proper lighting at night.
He further noted that at the Chandrasekara Swamy Temple in Tiruchendurai, operations now begin only after 9 a.m. a cost-saving measure to reduce electricity usage rather than in the early hours as per tradition. Moreover, priests who have been performing daily rituals for decades are still being paid as little as ₹50 a day.
Manickavel also highlighted that 95 percent of temples lack traditional Nagaswaram instruments, which are an essential part of temple ceremonies. Calling the situation deeply concerning, he urged for immediate reforms. He stressed that temple assets must be protected, and revenues should not be siphoned off by politicians, officials, or contractors. To achieve this, he said, the Endowments Department must be dismantled.
Speaking to the press A.G. Ponn Manickavel said, “In every temple, they should play mangalavadyam (auspicious music) in this temple too. But whether that will happen or not, I really don’t know. Because this is a very wealthy temple, there is a chance it might happen. After all, shouldn’t the musicians who rely on this for their livelihood be able to eat or not?
So what did she did for the sake of having mangalavadyam played at all times — not just for a year, but for 100, 200, 300, or even 400 years, she donated another five kalanch (a unit of gold). That is, they gave gold. And to whom she gave it? The Mahasabha (great council) of the Esan Mangalam temple. When “Mahasabha” is written in Tamil, it appears as “Parudaiyar”. That gold was given to the Parudaiyar, and with that, they bought six ma of land (a traditional measurement of land area). Ma is used in Tanjore but I’m not aware of that.
This land was purchased and assigned to the family who played the pipi (a traditional wind instrument). In Thanjavur, they refer to them as mozhakkarars (instrumentalists). Here, it is mangalavadyam. These people were considered prominent and respected back then. Some of them would play right near the sanctum (karuvarai), slightly farther outside. They were given the means to live, and this tradition continued for over 100 years.
But today, if you look at the situation the salary payments had already stopped for past 20 years. That kind of event is no longer followed in the temple. This is a temple with great antiquity, the HRCE since 1925, but now have brought to streets (abandoned). This is the truth.”
95 சதவிகித கோவில்களில்… விளக்கு இல்லை… வாத்தியம் இல்லை | #TamilJanam | #HRCE | #Ponmanikavel | #Temples pic.twitter.com/DFtiDPBdpR
— Tamil Janam (@TamilJanamNews) June 5, 2025
Former Idol Wing CID Inspector-General A.G. Ponn Manickavel launched a scathing attack on the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) Department and Minister Sekar Babu, accusing them of mismanagement, historical ignorance, and moral failure in preserving temple heritage.
He stated that anyone can download critical documents related to temple records — and that these can even be submitted in Tamil Nadu courts or the High Court. However, he alleged that the authorities will either claim such records don’t exist or point to a single file buried in a pile, ignoring the rest.
He emphasized that key records, especially those detailing ancient temple properties and donations, are not held by the HRCE department but can be found with the Department of State Archaeology or through institutions in Delhi or the Madras circle. “If the Archaeological Survey of India is asked, they will produce the documents,” he added.
Among the vital documents he mentioned are files numbered 316, 316E, 291, 294, 298, 300, 310, 319, 320, and most importantly, 325. He pointed out that these records, detailing temple land, gold donations, and service grants, were meticulously documented by British Christians over 120 years ago — long before the HRCE Department or even the Waqf Board Act came into existence.
Manickavel questioned the minister’s claims of spending ₹100 crores on Palani Murugan statue, asking, “What moral authority do they have to make such statements when they have no knowledge of or access to the actual historical records?”
He also revealed that records show donations like six ma (traditional units) of land and five kalanju of gold made to temple musicians likely Molakars, those who perform mangalavadyam (auspicious music). He criticized the current temple administration for allowing traditions to vanish, pointing out that many temples now open only after 9 AM to save electricity, and most remain poorly lit at night.
Speaking passionately about a specific temple, he described it as a sacred space — likening the Shivalingam to the feet of the Supreme — now neglected and encroached upon. Families that once served the temple have disappeared, and modern ministers, instead of preserving the legacy, are complicit in its decline.
Manickavel lamented, “Isn’t it all destroying? There’s no mangalavadyam (traditional temple music), no lamps in the temple. My stomach burns seeing this, that’s why I keep criticizing the HRCE Department. I pray to God that they should get destroyed. Why I pray that this department should get destroyed? Do I have some personal grudge against the department? No. In a democratic country, I’ve had to come and beg you. If this were the time of the old kings, the conversation would be over. I’m a southern man, I would have taken what belonged to us and barge in because this is our heritage. I’ve already mentioned the revenue. Just in one day, the HRCE Department collects ₹1.75 crore from Tamil Nadu temples. I have lied in due to little lost of memory — it’s actually ₹1.79 crore daily. They take over ₹54.75 crore every month. Yet in 275 temples, there are no lights at night. In 90% of temples, night-time lighting is missing. The mangalavadyam is no longer played. That entire tradition is vanishing. The art, the culture — everything is slowly fading away.”
Ponn Manickavel also exposed how deep-rooted corruption operates in temple renovations and Kumbabishekam (consecration ceremonies). He highlighted that while authorities claim to spend ₹100 crores on such projects, including ₹20 crores is quietly siphoned off. This isn’t mere theft—it’s a calculated manipulation and a serious breach of public trust, punishable by life imprisonment under the law but court doesn’t issue but god will. He compared corruption to cancer—spreading quietly and destructively. It begins with officials in charitable and religious administrative circles. Finally, contractors step in and take what’s left.
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