Officials of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department of the Thiruvetteeswarar temple have been found turning a blind eye to the dumping of rubbish and bringing in footwear inside the Thiruvetteeswarar Temple near Triplicane, sabotaging the sanctity of the temple.
The Tiruvatteeswar temple, which is said to be several centuries old with the Shiva Lingam probably much older than the temple itself, is being subjected to desecration that is going unseen by the temple officials.
A devotee has posted a video on social media showing the garbage dumped on the inner side of the temple. The video shows how poorly maintained the temple that is under the HR&CE.
இந்து அறநிலைய துறையின் அராஜகம் இன்று இந்த ஓரு கோவிலை விட்டு விட்டால் நாளை தமிழ்நாடு முழுதும் இறைவனுக்கு வாசிக்கும் கயிலாய வாத்தியம் மறைக்கப்படும் சிவனடியார்களே இனியாவது விழித்து கொள்ளுங்கம் நம் உரிமைக்கி குரல் கொடுங்கள்
Thiruvateswaran temple. pic.twitter.com/6R4dDDnbr8— Sevak Sathaya (@Sevakofmata) December 1, 2020
As can be seen from the video, slippers have been found inside the Rajagopuram and garbage has been dumped near the vahanams used to carry the Lord. A female employee can be seen taking the footwears from inside the temple and dropping them near the Rajagopuram when the devotee shooting the video asks a female employee whether she doesn’t feel ashamed to let slippers being worn inside the temple.
The Executive Officer when asked by a devotee of the temple about the shoddy condition of the temple is said to have replied arrogantly telling him that ‘he can go and complaint to whoever he wants’. This video has gone viral on social media and has causing a shock among the devotees.
About Thiruvetteeswarar Temple
A Vedicchuram in Appar’s Tevaram (one of the Tamil devotional hymns sung in praise of Lord Shiva) has reference to the temple having been present even in the 7th century. However, there are several other temples in Tamil Nadu that refers to this hymn to lay claim as proof of their antiquity.
As per available records, the temple was raised by on Samudra Mudali in the 18th century who worked as an accountant with the East India Company. He said to have found the Siva Lingam in a sandy tract along the Triplicane River that existed back then and has now died. Samudra Mudali had purchased the property owned by the Nawab of the Carnatic and built a temple and houses for temple servants from his private resources.