Attempts by Islamic organizations to occupy the famous Aththri Hills in Alvarkurichi in Tirunelveli have shocked devotees, who have demanded that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department intervene immediately to curb the encroachment.
The Department of Hindu Religious Affairs oversees the Arulmigu Anusuyadevi Sameda Atri Parameswar temple and Gorakkar temple on Aththri Hill in Tirunelveli. The Aththri Ganga Theertham, which is similar to the Ganges, is in a perennial river and has a rare white turtle. Even in the summer, the river Kadanaa, which flows through this hill, is perennially flowing.
It has been reported that Islamic organizations are currently occupying this spiritual mountain, and that certain persons who visit the hill with the forest department’s permission are sketching Islamic symbols in green at the site where the Siddhars are said to have lived.
According to the devotees, the rocks of the mountain temple are inscribed with the words “Allah,” an Islamic symbol of the crescent moon, and the number 786, which is used by Muslims. In the Pudukkottai district, all the idols in a Chola temple were recently beheaded, while in the Ranipettai district, Amman statues were disfigured and semen ejaculated over the idols in the historic Panchalingeswarar temple, which created a stir in those areas. Devotees and the general public have urged the government to take proper measures to conserve the historic temples in the hills, which have long been worshipped by Hindus.
(with inputs from KathirNews)
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