Accusing the temple management of insulting local devotees in the Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple, devotees and the general public, including an AIADMK councilor, besieged the temple office and staged a protest.
The world-famous Ramanathasamy temple in Ramanathapuram district attracts thousands of devotees on a daily basis and tens of thousands during festivals and holidays. The temple is situated in Rameswaram, one of the Pandyan sites where Devaaram hymns were sung.
In the Ramayana, Rama fought and killed Ravana in order to rescue Sita from her kidnapper. To atone for his sin of killing a Brahmin and prevent the “Brahmahatti Dosham,” Rama dedicated and worshipped a sand lingam at this temple.
Rameswaram is also one of India’s 12 astrologically significant sites. According to the Puranas, Rama, who killed Ravana in the Ramayana, worshiped at this temple to atone for his sins. People from across the country flock to Rameshwaram for pilgrimage.
Since Rama worshipped Lord Eshwar, the temple is known as Ramanathaswamy, and the area is known as Rameswaram (Rama + Eshwaran).
Now at this holy pilgrimage site, there have been allegations that the temple administration has locked the temple premises at various locations and is not allowing the local public or pilgrims from outside to have proper darshan of the god.
In this case, the general public, devotees, and an AIADMK councilor laid seige to condemn the temple administration for disrespecting the devotees who had gone to the temple for worship on Monday. They engaged in a fierce verbal duel with the authorities causing commotion in the temple premises.
Later, the temple authorities negotiated with the protesters who were refusing to leave. As the situation in the temple became tense, police were called in even while the temple authorities were negotiating. The protesters have warned that if the temple administration does not change its arrogant attitude, they will take the protest to the next level.
(With inputs from Samayam Tamil)
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