Featured Image Credits: Reclaim Temples\Twitter
Authorities have been yet again caught napping as a church complex has been built on top of the ancient Thirumalapuram cave temple in Tiruneveli, Tamil Nadu.
The church complex is built by illegally encroaching on the temple hill beneath which lies the seventh century cave temple. Dated to the Pandyan era, the Thirumalapuram cave temple is dedicated to the God Shiva and housed a monolithic Shiva Linga, until it was reportedly destroyed by Christians. By virtue of being a site of historical importance, the site is under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Remains of Nandi at the ancient Thirumalapuram cave temple, Tirunelveli.
The Shiva temple was earlier used by Christian missionaries as a Church. They completely destroyed monolithic Nandi infront of Mahadev.
Hindus still worship whatever remains of the Nandi.#ReclaimTemples pic.twitter.com/B1zgupuxAk
— Reclaim Temples (@ReclaimTemples) March 3, 2021
The Sendamaram Tirumalaimatha Church built on top of the cave temple comes under the authority of the Diocese of Palayamkottai. The Diocese’s website even mentions that the chapel and Christian structure was built on top of a pre-existing Hindu temple.
The Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) has filed complaints with the ASI and the Ministry of Culture against this encroachment. The LRO requested “immediate intervention” regarding the issue.
Complaint lodged at Archaeological Survey Of India @ASIGoI @MinOfCultureGoI @prahladspatel against encroachment of #Thirumalapuram Cave Temple at #Tirunelveli, #TamilNadu by illegal #Church structure. Requested immediate intervention @ReclaimTemples had flagged d issue pic.twitter.com/PgIRT1HCMq
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) March 8, 2021
Cases of temple land encroachment ― by various groups for a variety of purposes ― are a dime a dozen in the nation. Particularly, the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are seeing a rise in cases where Christian groups build unauthorised and illegal religious structures on encroached land.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.