A video has recently gone viral showing Tamil Nadu HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekar Babu being confronted by a group of Trisuthandharas, a class of priests who perform key rituals and daily services at the Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple.
திருச்செந்தூர் சுப்பிரமணிய சுவாமி கோவில் குடமுழுக்கு நாளில் (ஜூலை 7) கோயிலுக்குள் அமைச்சர் சேகர்பாபுவிடம் திரிசுதந்திரர்கள் வாக்குவாதத்தில் ஈடுபடும் காட்சிகள் தற்போது வெளியாகி பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது#Thiruchendur | #SekarBabu | #thiruchendurmurugantemple pic.twitter.com/cAWzdFsjWX
— PttvOnlinenews (@PttvNewsX) July 10, 2025
The incident reportedly took place during the Kodamuzhukku (kumbhabishekam) ceremony on 7 July 2025, where the Trisuthandharas were allegedly denied access by officials to the first floor of the temple to witness the sacred event. In contrast, members of the ruling party were reportedly granted entry, sparking outrage among the priests and leading to a heated exchange. This perceived exclusion of those who play a vital role in the temple’s religious functioning caused significant distress and led to a commotion within the premises.
The Trisuthandharas are responsible for a wide range of essential temple duties: conducting daily pujas for the deity, reciting Katyam, preparing Neyvethyam (offering food), performing various rituals, reciting Vedic chants, guarding temple treasures, and overseeing morning and night ceremonies such as Tirupalli Eluchi and Palliyarai puja. Their exclusion from such a major event was seen as a serious affront to both tradition and religious protocol.
State president of the Spiritual and Temple Development Wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu, M Nachiappan, alleged, “At the consecration ceremony of the Thiruchendur Subramaniya Swamy Temple, permission was denied to the Thiruchendur traditionalists, and only DMK party members were allowed. In a situation where there are 800 traditionalists performing rituals in the temple, only a mere 100 were permitted—what an atrocity! The traditionalists who perform daily pujas for the deity, chant hymns, read the panchangam, prepare offerings, serve in daily rituals, recite Vedas, safeguard the deity’s ornaments, protect the sanctum, conduct the morning and evening pujas, and sing the Viswaroopam—when even these traditionalists face such a situation, just imagine the plight of the devotees. Scenes of the Thiruchendur traditionalists engaging in heated arguments with Minister Sekarbabu inside the temple, protesting this issue, have now surfaced, causing a stir. What is the purpose of the HR&CE Department for such chaos?”
திருச்செந்தூர் சுப்பிரமணிய சுவாமி கோவில் குடமுழுக்கு நிகழ்ச்சியில் திரிசுதந்திரர்களுக்கு அனுமதி மறுக்கப்பட்டு, திமுக கட்சியினரை மட்டுமே அனுமதித்தனர். கோவிலில் முறை செய்யும் திரிசுந்தரர்கள் 800 பேர் இருக்கும் நிலையில் வெறும் 100 பேர் மட்டுமே அனுமதித்த கொடுமை!
தினமும் சுவாமிக்கு… pic.twitter.com/ouZea6TUIM
— M Nachiappan (@BJPNach) July 10, 2025
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