The city of Madurai and the entire state of Tamil Nadu is still recovering from the shocking news of a Murugan devotee Poornachandran having set himself ablaze reportedly in protest against the DMK government’s decision to disallow devotees from lighting the sacred Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon on the Thirupparankundram Murugan Temple hill.
Commuters in the area reportedly heard loud cries and noticed flames emerging from the booth, following which they alerted the Fire and Rescue Services. Fire personnel rushed to the spot and rescued Poornachandran with severe burn injuries. He was taken to the District Government Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The body was sent for post-mortem examination by the Thallakulam Police, who have registered a case and said that further investigation is under way.
Audio Message
An audio clip, reportedly recorded by Poornachandran shortly before the incident, has since surfaced and is being examined by the police. In the recording, he identified himself and spoke at length about the dispute surrounding the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at Thirupparankundram.
In the audio, Poornachandran said, “Greetings, greetings to all the people. I am Pooranachandran from Madurai speaking. On the Tirupparankundram issue, the decision taken by the government is a wrong decision.”
Referring to a recent judicial order, he stated, “In this Karthigai month, when a High Court judge has given an order that the deepam (sacred lamp) should be lit on the hill, without respecting that order, the Tamil Nadu government is behaving like this, which I consider a cruelty inflicted on the Hindu community that wants to live with dignity.”
He spoke about the religious significance of Thirupparankundram, saying, “For many, many hundreds of years, for thousands of years, in ancient times, in Thirupparankundram, people have been worshipping Lord Muruga. As a crown jewel for that, they have been lighting the lamp on that hill.”
Poornachandran also referred to the practice followed over the last century, “For about 100 years now, lighting the deepam on the hill has been banned, and they have been lighting it at the place called Moksha deepam instead. This itself cannot be called an Agama rule; it is wrong.”
Criticising the role of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, he said, “This should have been taken up by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, which is under the control of the government, and that department is conducting it; so if it was so, I feel there was no necessity for Hindu organizations to be the ones fighting for this.”
Drawing a comparison with religious institutions of another faith, he stated, “If the same kind of ancient practice had been stopped in a mosque, then the Waqf Board and such bodies that control it, such organizations would definitely have implemented it again. Even if it had been banned for 100 years, 200 years, 300 years, they would have fought for it and restored it, which shows their unity.”
He added that Hindus lacked similar unity, “But today, when the great Hindu society, not only in Tamil Nadu but all over India, is remaining like a scattered herd, we do not stand in an organized way and fight for it, and that is why the government is acting like this.”
Reference to Periyar Statue and Intent
In the recording, Poornachandran referred to the Periyar statue near which the incident occurred and stated, “So what I am telling you is this: because of this, near the Periyar statue, I will light myself up and do that in front of the person who said ‘There is no God,’ for the sake of God, I am going to do something now.”
He also thanked the judge who passed the order permitting the lighting of the lamp, “My thanks to that judge.”
Calling upon others to circulate the message, he said, “Please share this video everywhere. Inform the media. Tell the media, tell all the media.”
Referring to future political developments, he stated, “In 2026 there will be an election. After that election is over, in the very next term of government, on Karthigai Deepam day in 2026, the deepam must be lit there on the hill. For that cause, without sparing even my life, I have decided to do this.”
Message to Family
Poornachandran also addressed his family in the audio, “I have two sons. My wife and my family members will suffer, grieving after losing me. When they feel that pain of separation from me, their hearts will be terribly wounded, because all these days I have lived with them in affection.”
He requested support for them, stating, “For that reason, please show them a good doctor or counselor here, show them someone who can console them. I express my deep regret to my family.”
He emphasised that the decision was his own, “Because of mental agony only I am taking this decision. It is entirely my own decision. So please accept that and close this matter. All of you, please remember me.”
Final Statement in Audio
In the concluding part of the message, Poornachandran said, “By lighting the deepam on my body, in front of the Periyar statue, inside this house, inside this police quarters house, I am going to sacrifice my life.”
He appealed for spiritual unity, “Through this, I ask that all the people of Tamil Nadu should unite spiritually.”
Referring to Madurai’s religious importance, he stated, “On the sacred soil of Madurai, there are two of the six battle abodes (Aru Padai Veedu) of Lord Muruga. Thirupparankundram and Pazhamudhircholai… There is the Meenakshi Amman Temple, and there is the Azhagar Temple.”
He concluded, “In such a spiritually rich land of Madurai, because they are not allowing a spiritual event to be conducted on the hill, out of that mental sorrow, I am going to light the deepam on my own body and give up my life right here in this police quarters. For that, I ask my family members to forgive me.”
Background
The issue relates to whether Hindu devotees should be permitted to light the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp on the Deepathoon, a stone pillar located atop Thirupparankundram Hill near Madurai. The issue has been the subject of ongoing legal and administrative disputes.
Police said further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is continuing.
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