The administration of the ancient Sri Kallazhagar Temple in Azhagarkoil, Madurai District — one of the 108 Vaishnava Divya Desams — is under fire after it introduced a controversial “Break Darshan” fee of ₹500 per person. Activists and devotees say the move disregards tradition and constitutes financial misconduct.
Recently, the Executive Office at the Kallazhagar Temple issued a notification (No. 1156/2025-A4, dated June 5, 2025) stating that “quick darshan” and “general darshan” (priced at ₹10) will be suspended. Instead, a “Break Darshan” costing ₹500 per person is being implemented, except during major festivals and auspicious days. With the ₹500 system applying on all but 33 days annually, the temple has effectively placed a paywall around devotion for 91% of the year.
The notification lists days when break darshan will not be available, including new moons, film festivals, Saraswati Puja, Diwali, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Thirukalyanam ceremonies, and the first day of Thirupavithra festival.
The new ₹500 fee represents a staggering jump from the current ₹10 charge – a 5,000% price hike that has left devotees reeling. Critics argue the term ‘Break Darshan’ carries no religious significance, with its transactional phrasing revealing a commercial rather than spiritual motive.
It will also only be (mis)used by the affluent and VIPs who can afford to pay ₹500 while the common public suffer in long queues.
Temple activists accuse the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) of illegally managing the 2000-year-old shrine in violation of orders by the Madras High Court and Supreme Court. According to them, the department fails to collect the income due from the vast properties owned by the Kallazhagar Temple and instead focuses on commercializing darshan.
Allegations further state that more than ₹30 crore from the Temple’s funds have been misappropriated in the last few years under the department’s oversight, fueling suspicion of financial irregularities.
Sri Kallazhagar temple, Azhagarkoil, Madurai District. An ancient temple of 20 centuries and one of the 108 Vaishnava Divyadesams. The temple is administered by FRAUD by @tnhrcedept from 13.12.1951 in defiance of the orders of… pic.twitter.com/COObAcfZYx
— trramesh (@trramesh) June 17, 2025
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