Kovai Kamatchipuri Adheenam Panchalingeswarar has strongly condemned the recent issues surrounding Thirupparankundram, emphasizing that it is not a problem for Lord Murugan but for the Hindu community as a whole.
Speaking on the matter, he highlighted the significance of Lord Muruga, calling Him the deity of Kali Yuga and recalling His revered title of Swaminatha Swami, given for teaching even His father. Lord Muruga, he noted, is unique to Tamil culture, with His temple present wherever there is a hill. Thirupparankundram, the foremost of His six sacred abodes, holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. Hindu scriptures affirm that Lord Muruga incarnates whenever evil forces arise to eradicate them, and the current activities at Thirupparankundram, he said, are deeply distressing.
Adheenam Panchalingeswarar emphasized that all gods teach only love and kindness and that eating prasadam and annadanam inside the temple premises is alright. He strongly criticized the desecration of the sacred mountain, stating that consuming biryani at such a holy site is unacceptable. He also added that it is not enough to go on Padayatra with a lot of vibhuti on the forehead and encouraged devotees to face challenges to their faith with the same resolve they demonstrate during religious pilgrimages. He urged the community to recognize this as a collective issue for Hindus, rather than merely a challenge for Lord Muruga.
He called for active participation in the Hindu Munnani protest to denounce this sacrilegious act, urging Muruga devotees from across Tamil Nadu to unite. “It is disheartening that we must protest at the sacred hill to safeguard it,” he remarked.
Finally, he expressed hope that such incidents would not recur in Tamil Nadu, calling for prayers to the Mother Goddess to protect the sanctity of the state’s sacred sites.
Background
The sacred Hindu site of Thirupparankundram Hills is facing growing tension, with controversial actions by a Muslim politician fueling divisive rhetoric. Indian Union Muslim League member and Ramanathapuram MP Navas Kani, who also serves as the chairman of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, has claimed that the dargah at the hilltop is Waqf property. This statement has sent shockwaves through the region and intensified existing tensions.
This development is part of a series of incidents that have strained relations between Hindus and Muslims, who had previously lived in harmony. Some Islamists groups have been attempting to assert their rights to conduct animal sacrifices at the hilltop, furthering their claims that the entire Thirupparankundram Hills should be recognized as Sikkandar Hills.
The situation escalated on 27 December 2024, when Madurai police intervened to detain a group of Muslims family attempting to bring goats and roosters to the hilltop dargah for ritual sacrifice. Syed Abu Dahir, a 53-year-old from Malaiyadipatti in Rajapalayam, arrived with his family and animals for the ceremony but was stopped by authorities at the base of the hill. Police informed them that bringing livestock up the hill was prohibited, which led to a protest by over 20 local Muslims at the foot of the hill in solidarity with the family.
The following week, on 5 January 2025, another large group of Muslim protesters gathered at Thirupparankundram Hills, demanding permission to offer prayers at the mosque located at the top. When the police denied their request, tensions escalated, leading to a brief scuffle and the detention of the protesters.
On 17 January 2025, during the Santhanakoodu Festival at a nearby dargah, social media posts began circulating about an upcoming “Equality Feast” (Samabanthi Bhojan) on 18 January at the hilltop dargah, where goats and roosters were allegedly to be sacrificed. Fearing communal unrest, police set up barricades and conducted searches to prevent the transportation of livestock to the hill. When the dargah Jamath was informed that animal sacrifices were not allowed, protests broke out. Members of the Jamath, along with other Muslim protesters, clashed with the police, causing further disruptions.
The situation was exacerbated by the involvement of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), an ally of AIADMK and a group linked to the banned terror outfit PFI. These elements are believed to be behind the attempts to conduct animal sacrifices at the sacred Thirupparankundram Hill.
Furthering tensions, on 21 January 2025, DMK Manapparai MLA Abdul Samad was accused of conducting an illegal survey around the temple with intentions to gain control of the hill. On the same day, IUML member and Ramanathapuram MP Navas Kani was seen giving an interview near the Thirupparankundram Hills. When asked whether the dargah at the hilltop was under the Waqf Board, Kani confirmed, “Yes, it is under the control of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board,” further heightening tensions in the area.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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