Corruption and silai thiruttu at Kanchipuram Temple - ஏகாம்பரநாதர் வேடிக்கை பார்க்கமாட்டார்!

அரசு வேடிக்கை பார்க்கலாம்...

ஏகாம்பரநாதர் வேடிக்கை பார்க்கமாட்டார் !

This vast temple is one of the most ancient in India having been in existence since at least 600 AD. Second century AD Tamil poetry speaks of Kama kottam, and the Kumara kottam (currently the Kamakashi Amman temple and the Subramanya temple). The temple finds mention in the classical Tamil Sangam literature dated 300 BCE like Manimegalai and Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai.  Initially temple was built by Pallavas. The Vedantist Kachiyapper served as a priest at the temple. The existing structure then, was pulled down and rebuilt by the later Chola Kings. Adi Sankara, the  ensured remodeling of Kanchipuram  along with expansion of this temple along with Kamakshi Amman temple and Varadaraja Perumal Temple with the help of local rulers.

Sri Ekambareswarar Temple (Ekambaranathar Temple) is a glorious temple dedicated to Lord , located in the town of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. It is significant to SAivaites  as one of the temples associated with the five elements, the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, and specifically the element of earth, or Prithvi. Shiva is worshiped as Ekambareswarar or Ekambaranathar, and is represented by the lingam, with his idol referred to as Prithvi lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Gowridevi Amman. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Thevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

The temple also houses Nilathingal Thundam Perumal temple, a Divyadesam, the 108 temples revered in the Vaishnava canon Nalayira Divya Prabhandam.

The temple complex covers 25 acres, and is one of the largest in India. It houses four gateway towers known as gopurams. The tallest is the southern tower, with 11 stories and a height of 58.5216 metres (192 ft), making it one of the tallest temple towers in India. The present masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions are attributed to Vijayanagar rulers.

The temple is maintained !  and administered!  by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.  Some years back corruptions rocked, corrupt officials embezzled money and dared changing the statue of Lord also.  Some higher officials too were arrested and case as expected is pulling on with people asking – what happened to the Somaskander Case ?  - என்னவானது சோமாஸ்கந்தர் சிலை வழக்கு?  - read this factual line in Ananda Vikadan, makes a sad reading !

பஞ்சபூத சிவத் தலங்களில் ஒன்றான காஞ்சிபுரம் ஏகாம்பரநாதர் திருக்கோயில், 1,600 ஆண்டுகள் பழைமை வாய்ந்தது. இந்தக் கோயிலின் சோமாஸ்கந்தர் உற்சவர் சிலை சேதமடைந்துவிட்டதாகச் சொல்லப்பட்டு, புதிதாகச் சிலைகள் செய்யப்பட்டன. அவற்றில் தங்கம் கலக்காமல் மோசடி நடைபெற்றதாகப் புகார் எழுந்தது. ‘12 பேர்மீது சிலைக்கடத்தல் தடுப்பு பிரிவால் வழக்கு பதியப்பட்டு கைதுகளும் அரங்கேறின. என்னவானது அந்த வழக்கு?

சிவன், பார்வதி, முருகன் ஆகிய மூன்று தெய்வங்களின் சிலைகளும் ஒரே பீடத்தில் அமையப்பெற்றதுதான் சோமாஸ்கந்தர் சிலை. ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் பழைமை வாய்ந்த, 117 கிலோ எடை கொண்ட இந்தச் சிலை பஞ்சலோகத்தில் செய்யப்பட்டது. நுணுக்கமான வேலைப்பாடுகளுடன் அதிக அளவு தங்கம் கலந்து செய்யப்பட்ட அபூர்வ சிலை இது. சோமாஸ்கந்தரில் இருந்த தொன்மையான முருகனின் சிலை கடந்த 1993-ம் ஆண்டு காணாமல் போனதால், புதிதாக ஒரு முருகன் சிலை செய்து பொருத்தப்பட்டதாகக் கூறப்படுகிறது.

தொடர்ந்து கடந்த 2015-ம் ஆண்டில் சோமாஸ்கந்தர் சிலை பழுதடைந்து விட்டது என்று கூறி, புதிய சிலை செய்ய முடிவெடுத்தது இந்து சமய அறநிலையத்துறை. இது தொடர்பாக அறநிலையத்துறை ஸ்தபதி முத்தையா விடமும் அறிக்கை பெறப்பட்டது. பக்தர்களிடம் தங்கம் நன்கொடையாகப் பெறப்பட்டு, 2016-ம் ஆண்டு 176 கிலோ எடையுள்ள புதிய சிலையைச் செய்து பிரதிஷ்டை செய்தனர்.

இங்குதான் பிரச்னை எழுந்தது. இந்தச் சிலை செய்யப்பட்டதில் முறைகேடு நடைபெற்றுள்ளதாக அண்ணாமலை என்பவர் சிவகாஞ்சி காவல்நிலையத்தில் புகார் கொடுத்தார். இந்த விவகாரத்தைக் கையிலெடுத்த சிலைக்கடத்தல் தடுப்பு பிரிவு போலீஸார், சிலை செய்ததில் 5.75 கிலோ தங்கம் முறைகேடு நடைபெற்றிருப்பதையும் சிலையில் துளிக்கூட தங்கம் இல்லை என்பதையும் கண்டுபிடித்தனர். இந்து அறநிலையத்துறையின் ஸ்தபதி முத்தையா, ஆணையராக இருந்த வீர சண்முகமணி, திருப்பணிகள் பிரிவு கூடுதல் ஆணையர் கவிதா உட்பட பத்துப் பேரைக் கடந்த ஆகஸ்ட் 2018-ம் ஆண்டு கைது செய்தனர் போலீஸார்.

கைது செய்யப்பட்டு 48 மணி நேரத்துக்கு மேல் காவல் பிடியில் இருந்ததால், நீதிமன்ற உத்தரவின்பேரில் கவிதா சஸ்பெண்ட் செய்யப்பட்டார். கைது செய்யப்பட்டவர்கள் தற்போது பிணையில் வெளியே இருக்கின்றனர். இந்த நிலையில், கோயிலின் செயல் அலுவலர் முருகேசனும் ஓய்வு பெறுவதற்கு ஆறு நாள்களே இருந்த நிலையில், கடந்த ஏப்ரல் 24-ம் தேதி திடீரென சஸ்பெண்ட் செய்யப்பட்டார். இதையடுத்துதான் மீண்டும் சோமாஸ்கந்தர் சிலை விவகாரம் விஸ்வரூபம் எடுத்திருக்கிறது.

“அரசு வேடிக்கை பார்க்கலாம்...

ஏகாம்பரநாதர் வேடிக்கை பார்க்கமாட்டார்!”

இது குறித்து ஆலய வழிபடுவோர் சங்கத்தின் தலைவர் டி.ஆர்.ரமேஷிடம் பேசினோம். “முத்தையா ஸ்தபதி கோயில் கட்டும் பணியை மேற்கொள்பவர். அவர் சிற்ப சாஸ்திர வல்லுநர்தான். ஆகம வல்லுநர் இல்லை. அவரிடமிருந்து அறிக்கை பெற்று புதிய சிலையைச் செய்திருக்கிறார்கள். இந்து அறநிலையத்துறையின் விதிகளின்படி பழைய சிலைகளை புனரமைக்க மட்டுமே அதிகாரமுள்ளது, புதிய சிலைகள் செய்ய அவர்களால் உத்தரவிட முடியாது இப்படி விதியை மீறிச் செய்யப்பட்ட புதிய சிலையிலும் துளிக்கூட தங்கம் இல்லை. சிலைக்காகத் தங்கம் கொடுத்தவர்களின் சாட்சியங்களும் உள்ளன. மேலும், பழைய சோமாஸ்கந்தர் சிலையில் 75 சதவிகிதம் அளவில் தங்கம் இருப்பதாக முத்தையா ஸ்தபதி அறிக்கையில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஆனால், அதிலும் தங்கம் இல்லை.

சமீபத்தில் சஸ்பெண்ட் செய்யப்பட்ட செயல் அலுவலர் முருகேசன்மீது எந்தக் குற்றச்சாட்டும் இல்லை. அலுவலகத்துக்கு சைக்கிளில் வந்து செல்பவர் அவர். அவருடைய வீட்டில் டி.வி., ஃப்ரிட்ஜ் போன்ற வசதிகள்கூடக் கிடையாது. உயரதிகாரிகள் தாங்கள் தப்பிப்பதற்காக முருகேசனை பலிகடா ஆக்கியிருக்கிறார்கள். சோமாஸ்கந்தர் சிலை விவகாரத்தை இன்னும் தோண்டினால், மேலும் பல அதிர்ச்சிகள் கிளம்பும்” என்றார்.

சமூக சேவகர் உமா ஆனந்தன், “வழக்கமாக இந்து அறநிலையத்துறையில் யாராவது ஓர் அதிகாரி முறைகேட்டில் ஈடுபட்டால், அவரை முதலில் சஸ்பெண்ட் செய்வார்கள். பின்னர் அவர் மீதான விசாரணையைக் கிடப்பில் போட்டுவிடுவார்கள். ஆறு மாத காலத்துக்குப் பிறகு, ‘என்மீது எந்த விசாரணையும் நடத்தாமல் காலம் தாழ்த்துவது அநீதி. உடனடியாக என்னை பணியில் சேர்க்க உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்’ என்று சம்பந்தப்பட்ட அலுவலர் நீதிமன்றம் செல்வார். உத்தரவு கிடைத்தவுடன் அதே பணியில் மீண்டும் சேர்ந்துவிடுவார். விசாரணையும் அத்துடன் இழுத்து மூடப்படும். இந்த பாணியில்தான் இந்து அறநிலையத்துறையில் முறைகேட்டில் ஈடுபடும் அதிகாரிகள் தப்பிக்கின்றனர். சோமாஸ்கந்தர் சிலை வழக்கில் தொடர்புடைய அதிகாரிகளும் இதுபோல் தப்பிவிடாதபடி நீதிமன்றம்தான் கண்காணிக்க வேண்டும்” என்றார்.

விவரமறிந்த சிலரிடம் பேசினோம். “சஸ்பெண்ட் செய்யப்பட்ட கூடுதல் ஆணையர் கவிதா மீண்டும் பணிக்கு வருவது கடினம். அவர்மீதுள்ள வழக்கை முறியடித்தாலும், சிலை முறைகேடு தொடர்பான புகாரின்மீது தனி விசாரணை நடத்தப்படும். சர்ச்சைக்குள்ளான புதிய சோமாஸ்கந்தர் சிலை தற்போது கும்பகோணம் நீதிமன்றத்தின் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் உள்ளது. தொன்மையான சோமாஸ்கந்தர் உற்சவர் சிலையை மூன்று குழுக்கள் அமைத்துச் சரிசெய்து, தற்போது ஏகாம்பரநாதர் கோயிலில் வைத்து வழிபடுகின்றனர்.

சோமாஸ்கந்தர் சிலை முறைகேடு வழக்கை இப்படியே சில காலம் கிடப்பில் போட்டு மூடிவிட நினைக்கின்றனர். இதுதான் இந்த வழக்கின் இன்றைய நிலை. அரசு வேடிக்கை பார்க்கலாம்; ஏகாம்பரநாதர் வேடிக்கை பார்க்க மாட்டார். தவறு இழைத்தவர்களுக்கு தண்டனை நிச்சயம்” என்றார்கள்.

சஸ்பெண்ட் செய்யப்பட்ட கவிதா தரப்பில் பேசியவர்கள், “ `சோமாஸ்கந்தர் சிலை செய்வதற்கு பொதுமக்கள் யாரும் தங்கம் நன்கொடை அளிக்கத் தேவையில்லை’ என ஏகாம்பரநாதர் கோயிலில் அறிவிப்பு பலகை வைக்கப்பட்டது. அதையும் மீறி சில பக்தர்கள் அளித்த தங்கத்தை மட்டும் சிலை செய்வதற்குப் பயன்படுத்தினார்கள். இதனால், சிலையில் தங்கத்தின் அளவு வழக்கமாக இருப்பதைவிடக் குறைந்த அளவுதான் இருந்தது. இதை அந்தச் சமயத்தில் கவிதாவே அறிக்கையாக வெளியிட்டார். அப்படி இருக்கும்போது, அவர் முறைகேட்டில் ஈடுபட்டார் எனக் கூறுவது மிகவும் தவறு. சோமாஸ்கந்தர் விவகாரத்தில் சில அதிகாரிகள் நற்பெயர் எடுப்பதற்காக கவிதாவை பலிகடா ஆக்கிவிட்டனர். அவர்மீது எந்தத் தவறும் நிரூபிக்கப்படவில்லை” என்றனர்.

Makes a sad, sad reading !

Here is the link to Vikatan article  :  Ekambaranathar

when Fence turns thieves ~ only Lord can save from these idol lifters !!!

In the land of Azhwars&Nayanmars – devouts go to Temples everyday. WE believe in surrendering UNTO HIMSELF – and GOD will take care of us. For devout HINDUS – GOD IS EVERYTHING.  HE PROTECTS US IN EVERY WAY .. .. there are beautiful, ancient, famous temples – devotees offer crores in Temple hundis, donate lands, donate material, arrange for so many celebrations .. .. .. .. and at some point of time – Temples went into the hands of Government.

Government for administering temples created a monster called HR&CE – the intent was administration – what will a common man do – expect that in the civil society, any criminal misdoings will be punished by Police and Courts; appointed Govt Officials will administer – but alas, if you read the recent articles and follow the happenings in Tamil Nadu – all hopes will be dashed as Police officials and HR&CE officials are  involved in looting temple funds and indulged in idol thefts too ~ harsh and unbelievable – it may sound, but – these are recorded in media and chided by Courts !!

~ h o w       p a t h e t i c !!!!!

The Hindu Temples have been in possession of thousands of acres of lands since ancient times. Even during the times of East India Company, compaints were received regarding maladministration of these institutions. In 1858, the Indian Government's Administration was transferred to the British crown directly from the hands of the East India Company.  At that time itself,  the British Government assured that it will not interfere in the religious matters; there were large no. of complaints – and when the mantle passed on to local Govt, life has not changed for Temples.  There have been complaints of mismanagement of valuable assets like icons, jewels, etc. and encroachment of properties; authorities unable to collect the measly rents, not protect the properties but indulge in the way of worship, thinking devotees to be vassals.  From the malfunctions of Panagal times, continuing till, meantime the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951 was promulgated.

With this background – read the sordid occurrences below:

1)   The Idol Wing police arrested KadherBasha, suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police, in connection with the theft of idols from Sri Narumburnathar temple in Tirunelveli district.

While investigating the case, Basha inferred that idol smuggling barons were linked to the theft and in order to save them he allegedly closed it in 2007 by arresting three persons who were not involved in the crime. Subsequently, the stolen idol was smuggled to the U.S. through Dheenadayalan, an antique dealer.A few months ago, the agency came to know that the idol stolen from the Pazhavur temple was brought back to the country and confiscated by the Customs department in Kolkata.After investigation, a case was booked against Basha, who was out on bail in connection with the Aruppukotai idol theft case. He was picked up from Chennai and produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Friday. He was lodged in the Central Prison, Tiruchi.

2)   The Madras high court on Thursday granted conditional bail to retired IAS officer Veera Shanmugamoni, former commissioner of Hindu Religious Endowment and Charitable Trust Department, who was arrested by the Idol Wing CID for alleged misappropriation of money and gold collected for making two idols to Ekambareswarar Sivan Temple, Kancheepuram.

The court then ordered his release on bail on a bond for a sum of Rs10,000 with two sureties, for a like sum to the satisfaction of the special court for idol theft cases, Kumbakkonam.Shanmugamoni has also been directed to report before the Idol Wing police, whenever required for interrogation and not to tamper with the evidence or witnesses during the trial.

According to the prosecution, there had been a deep-seated common criminal conspiracy hatched in secrecy among the officials of the department, including the high-ranking petitioner to surreptitiously remove 1,600-year-old antique PanchalokamSomaskandar idol and the antique PanchalokamEalavaarkulali Amman idol from the temple and have it clandestinely replaced over the years with newly made modern replica of the idols.The further case of the prosecution is that Shanmugamoni, as the commissioner of the department, along with the additional commissioner in-charge should have ensured that the two newly made idols should contain a minimum of 8.7kg of gold in the total metal composition. The cost of 8.7kg of gold in 2015 amounts to Rs2.82cr. A huge amount of funds was collected from the devotees and it has not been properly accounted and that apart, there was absolutely no gold component in both the idols and thereby, the persons who were at the helm of affairs during the relevant point of time have misappropriated huge amounts of money, the prosecution added.

3)   The Madras High Court expressed shock hearing about destruction of records sought by the Idol Theft Wing - Criminal Investigation Department, from Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department in connection with the alleged theft of an idol of a peacock from PunnaivananatharSannidhi in Kapaleeswarar temple at Mylapore.

A Division Bench of Justices R. Mahadevan and P.D. Audikesavalu were taken aback when government advocate P. Kritika Kamal informed the court that the HR & CE officials had been giving “evasive replies” to requests made by Idol Theft Wing to part with the documents and recently they had claimed that all those documents were destroyed.

“How the documents can be destroyed? Who destroyed them? When were they destroyed? This is a very serious issue. Everybody responsible for this must be taken to task,” the senior judge in the Bench said and directed Inspector General of Police A.G. PonnManickavel to proceed further and find out the truth behind the claim of destruction of documents.The judge also said that the missing documents only end up affirming the allegations of writ petitioner Rangarajan Narasimhan that the original idol of the peacock carrying a flower on its beak had been shifted out of the temple during its consecration in 1994 and replaced with an identical idol of the bird holding a snake on its beak.

“It amounts to impersonation of idols. Lakhs of devotees have been worshipping fake idol for the last 14 years,” the petitioner said and urged the court to order installation of a new idol after following the rituals as per agamas.

~ who will save the Temples from the crutches of these people – ONLY LORD HIMSELF CAN !!

Please read and circulate ….

ஆலய சொத்து (அல்ல) ஆண்டவனையே கபளீகரம் செய்யும் அறத்துறை

There are thousands of devotees in Temple – there are so many temples in the South – just for example the most holy Thirumala Tirupathi would stand tall and above every other temple in sheer number of devotees and the donations. There are other temples as well – Sri Kanaka Durgamma temple in Bezawada, Kollur Mookambika, Kukke Subramanya swami, Udupi Sri Krishna in Karnataka; the most famous Guruvayur Sri Krishna, Sabarimala Sri Iyappan Devasthanam, Attukkal Bhagawathi amman  temple, Sri Padmanabhaswami temple ~ then there are so many divyadesangal and padal petra sthalams of Tamil nadu.

If one were to look at the first point of difference – it is the administration – Temples in almost every other place is managed by Boards / DEvaswoms / dharmakarthas / devotees having faith in the Lord and doing every act in the name of GOD .. .. but in Tamil Nadu, Temples are but revenue generators next to tasmac – temples are under the control of Govt, administered by atheists and the donations made to the temple find their way to any activity totally unconnected with the temple and the purpose of donation. Sad is the state of affairs.

While the real baktha who comes to the temple for worshipping and those innumerable devotees who contribute to the temple for its betterment – are kept out- provided no facilities, made to wait in the queue for long hours – one would find officials, politicians and those closer to these two identifies go near the Lord without standing in the Queue....  closer to GOD

It is a shame – on 31^st July 2018, Idol Wing sleuths  arrested M Kavitha, Additional Commissioner of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR&CE) on charges of misappropriation of gold in the two panchaloha idols made for the Ekambaranathar temple in Kancheepuram. The two idols, which were supposed to contain 5.75 kg of gold together and whose making was overseen by the then Deputy Commissioner of HRCE, Kavitha, did not contain even a single gram of gold, according to Idol Wing officials.  One should not be seeing this as a fallen disgraceful act of one individual – perhaps it is the failure of the system itself.

Here is what could be read in HR&CE site :  The management and control of the temples and the administration of their endowments is one of the primary responsibilities of the State.  A number of measures have been undertaken prior to the year 1925 for efficient control and supervision of the administration of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments.  In the Act 1 of 1925, the Government constituted " Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board" consisting of a President and two to four Commissioners nominated by the Government to function as a statutory body. Subsequently, Act 1 of 1925 was repealed by the Act 2 of 1927, which was followed by several modifications up to the year 1951. ~ even there, one thing is CLEAR – IT IS THE ADMINISTRATION AND NOT THE OWNERSHIP – AGAIN, ADMINISTRATION OF MONETARY ACTIVITIES CERTAINLY NOT THE RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES – BUT GO TO ANY TEMPLE AND SEE IT ALL BY YOURSELF – THE WAY THE OFFICIALS BEHAVE =- CAN ONE TOUCH HEART AND ASK WHY WOULD THE LORD READY FOR PROCESSION WAITS FOR THE EO/AC / DC TO COME AND HAVE DARSHAN ~ ARE THEY ABOVE THE LORD – DON’T THEY FEEL ASHAMED ?

SURE you have had darshan at holy Tirumala – after  passing through the Padi Kavali Maha Dvara, you will find yourself in an open mandapam called the Krishna Deva Raya Mandapam or Pratima Mandapam.  There you would see bronze  portrait icons of the Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya and his two consorts, Tirumaladevi to his left, and Chinnadevi to his right. All three icons face the main shrine, with their hands joined in supplication.  For those who do not know history, Sri Krishna Deva Raya was a great emperor ruling from Vijayanagar. 

The year 1001 A.D. saw the first inroad into India of the Muhammadans from over the north-west border, under Mahmud of Ghazni. He invaded first the plains of the Panjab, then Multan, and afterwards other places.  His expeditions were raids and nothing more. Other invasions, however, followed in quick succession, and after the lapse of two centuries the Muhammadans were firmly and permanently established at Delhi. War followed war,  In 1309 Malik Kafur,  swept into the Deccan akhan and captured Warangal. That was a period when marauders raided, killed thousands of hindus and pillaged all material wealth.   When ruin and devastation were the only happening, came the raise of Vijayanagara Empire came the check to the wave of invasion and those mighty Kings stand with folded hands in Temple – just compare with the modern day administrators, their words, deeds and behaviour in temples !!! .

Sad, sad, is the modern day looting – sometimes the officials empowered by a draconian statute to prevent are also involved – sadder still, they are looting not the revenue but playing with the IDOLS OF GODS TOO .. .. WHAT PUNISHMENT DO THEY DESERVE.

NEWS reports state that in  2015, Tamil Nadu chief sthapathi M Muthaiah advised the HR&CE on making new idols of Ezhavarkuzhali and Somaskandar, pointing out that the idols made in 2009 had not complied with the traditional rules. Permission was granted and orders were laid down that the Somaskandar idol should weigh 50 kg and the Ezhavarkuzhali idol 65 kg, amounting to a net total of 115 kgs. But the order was revised to make the idols weighing 111 kg and 63 kg respectively.

The department also provided alloy compositions needed for the making of the idols. An idol should contain 5% gold, 1% silver, 80% copper, 12% brass and 2% tin. Five percent of 115 kg will be 5.75 kg of gold.Investigators said that though the HR & CE officials had collected huge quantum of gold as donation for the idols, it was not used at all and swindled by them. The idols were made at Swamimalai near Kumbakonam on the orders of the Hindu Religious and Endowment board in 2015. The temple executive officer invited gold donations for the idols but never kept an account of the accepted gold ornaments, an official involved in the investigations said. After sculpting, both idols were brought to the Kancheepuram temple and installed.

The issue of came to light after one Annamalai lodged a complaint with the police. As no action was taken, the magistrate court ordered the police to probe the case. Idol Wing sleuths have  arrested M Kavitha, Additional Commissioner of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR&CE) on charges of misappropriation of gold in the two panchaloha idols made for the Ekambaranathar temple in Kancheepuram. The two idols, which were supposed to contain 5.75 kg of gold together and whose making was overseen by the then Deputy Commissioner of HRCE, Kavitha, did not contain even a single gram of gold, according to Idol Wing officials.

Only recently, we have been reading the run / anticipatory bail plea of P. Dhanapal, former HR & CE Commissioner who is wanted by the Idol Wing police in the Palani idol case. The esteemed sthapathi had already been arrested.  The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed the bail plea of   Mr. Dhanapal who moved the court seeking anticipatory bail after the Idol Wing police, led by Inspector General of Police A.G. Pon Manickavel, issued summons to him. But he failed to respond to the summons served at his houses in Chennai and Pudukottai, his native place. The case against the petitioner was filed under Sections 403 (Dishonest misappropriation of property), 409 (Criminal breach of trust by public servant), 418 (Cheating), 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 120-B (Punishment for criminal conspiracy) and 477 A (Falsification of accounts) of the Indian Penal Code.

So far, the Idol Wing has arrested four persons in the case pertaining to the alleged conspiracy to replace the main idol of Sri Dandayuthapaniswamy Temple in Palani in 2004.  MORE ;; ; Irked by the increasing number of complaints of thefts of ancient idols in Tamil Nadu, Madras High Court has issued an ultimatum to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. As reported by The Hindu, Justice R Mahadevan on Wednesday (11 July) warned Tamil Nadu government that he would be constrained to order a Central Bureau of Investigation probe if the HR&CE Department did not get its act together.

The judge made the statement taking cognizance of recent newspaper reports of a Panchaloha idol having been stolen from the famous Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai district, and a complaint made by Rangarajan Narasimhan of Tiruchi about the theft of precious artefacts from the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam. “It is a very sorry state of affairs in the State. This is totally unacceptable. The petitioner [Mr. Narasimhan] has been repeatedly approaching the government officials, but not an inch has moved. If idols are missing from each and every temple, then we will have to ask the CBI to probe into it. Why should there be a HR&CE department at all?,” the judge asked, according to the daily’s report.

Conveniently, the HR&CE feigned ignorance saying that the petitioner had not brought it to the notice of the department and had only been making repeated complaints to the police. "Now that we have come to know of his complaint, we shall take immediate action. I will ask the officials to start finding out the veracity of his claim right now,” said HR&CE counsel SP Maharajan. But Narasimhan told the court that he was tired of bringing these matters to the notice of  both the HR&CE as well as the police with regard to missing of precious idols, doors made of exotic wood, many kalasams, sculptures, unblemished granite pavements and other treasures that were said to be buried by erstwhile royals on the 157-acre temple campus.

In another case, petitioner named G Rajendran told the court that several ancient idols worth hundreds of crores at Uma Maheshwarar Temple in Konerirajapuram in Nagapattinam district were kept in a small room with an ordinary lock. And so were around 30 panchaloga idols at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple at Senthalai village near Tirukattupalli in Thanjavur district. He sought police protection for the idols stored in both the temples. The judge, clearly miffed with the rising complaints and inaction, has adjourned further hearings till Friday, by when the counsel for HR&CE department and the police are required to submit details of action taken on the Srirangam missing artefacts case.

HR&CE AND ITS OFFICIALS WHAT TO SAY … they put up defaulters list – who is to blame, those who have not paid or those who poorly administered – or these unscrupulous criminals who have tried to make money on the LORD HIMSELF !

~ a very sad bakth.

கடவுளே நீயே காப்பாற்று !! HR&CE removes idols from Temple in Cuddalore

கடவுளே உன் பக்தர்களை நீயே காப்பாற்றுவாயாக

Ever wondered why some temples have so many staff while some do not ? – ever cared to know – where would the money received by donations and offerings go ? – the only purpose of such donations is for the Temple, its upkeep and the traditions behind the temple – one would be stumped to know, that the money fills the coffers of the Govt – to be used in all and sundry schemes, totally unconnected, irrelevant and at times opposed to the very purpose of such donations, against Hinduism even.  Sounds melancholic !!

திருமயிலை கயீலேச்வரம் அற்புத தோற்றம்

Tamil Nadu has a long tradition of rich culture, traditions of literature, music, dance and above all religious faith.   Those famous kings of the land, built temples, maintained the existing ones which provided employment opportunities, promoted arts and culture, acted as granaries and primarily lent people the correct way of life.  Saiva & Srivaishnavism thrived in this land of Azhwargal and Nayamnars.  The big Temples possessing most beautiful idols of the Lord had thousands of believers praying all the time – temple management in the hands of Kings, Patrons, and locals – highly educated and firm in their belief.

The benevolent people have offered land, gold, cash, elephants, horses, cows, bulls and more to the temples and also instituted funds for their continued maintenance.  Over a period of time, from the donors the management passed on to Trustees, who were locally influential good people. Years later, the Govt stepped in (sadly only in respect of Hindu places of worship and not in any other religious places !)

A few decades ago, the State took  over the reins of the temple – now the  management and control of the temples and the administration of their endowments is stated to be the  primary responsibility of the State.  [does it fit in with the present secular credentials ?] Now there is Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, a Ministry, a Department, plethora of officials with associated materials including vehicles !!  ~ now read the following article that appeared in Indian Express of date  titled ‘Officials break open temple room, shift 26 idols’  and then read the concluding paras too.

HR&CE officials with the idols at Kasi Vishwanathar-Sivagamasundari Ambal Temple | Express

CUDDALORE: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department recovered 26 panchaloha idols from a temple here on Saturday despite local resistance and shifted them to a safer place. The government has been taking steps to move centuries-old temple idols in unsafe conditions to bigger temples, where they could be well protected. This is part of a plan to protect idols from smugglers.

As the 300-year-old Kasi Vishwanathar-Sivagamasundari Ambal Temple in Cuddalore Old Town, which comes under the control of HR&CE Department, has 26 panchaloha idols, the department has been trying to move them to well protected places. But earlier attempts by the officials did not work due to a local conflict. On Saturday, HR&CE Assistant Commissioner Renugadevi went to the temple along with police to move idols to a well-protected temple. But the locals, who have been influencing the activities of the temple, opposed and refused to give the key to the room, where the idols were kept.

Subsequently, the officials broke open the room’s lock in the presence of Village Administrative Officer Thanigachalam. Police team headed by inspector Sundarrajan was also present. The officials shifted all the 26 panchaloha idols after performing poojas and other rituals. “There are around 3,000 idols in the temples in Cuddalore district. Among them, we have identified some of them to be in unsafe conditions and hence have been moving them to the idol protection centre at Padaleeshwarar temple in Cuddalore. We are doing this with police protection,” Renugadevi said.

“So far, 182 idols from 50 temples have been shifted. That apart, we have installed surveillance camera and alarm in 105 temples. We are going to instal cameras in 70 more temples,” she said.

Does that not sound an alarm ? ~ shifting of idols that too 182 from 50 temples -  it is not simply idols but God – the presiding deities of Temples.  Such temples had been constructed only for installation of the deity and people have worshipped there for ages – now the Officials who are to manage the affairs of temple are shifting idols to ‘safe places’ – does that mean keeping the Gods in safety vaults! – if a Temple is considered not so safe, safety measures including watchman facilities should be put in place – shifting is no solution.  The DEpt which thrives on revenues from Temples should understand its basic duty of protecting the places of worship.

Though collectively called ‘Hindu temples’ – there are different agamas and other relevant things for the believer – how can a God of a particular temple be kept in a safe iron room though located in another temple.  What will be the purpose of keeping the God, if there are no daily rituals and would there be any meaning in rituals together for different Gods.  How shambolic ? – what is the wisdom of such acts by HR&CE Officials .. .. .. and why are we silent to every atrocity committed on our religion and belief.

Some fool would come on media question the faith of people donating in Temple hundis without daring to comment the same on other religions, the collections of temple would be used for non-religious purposes, then Gods are also forcibly shifted out of the temple, built in olden days with purpose and where worship had taken place for hundreds of year .. so sad is the state of affairs ?  - who will save us from these people !!!

Shiva-Parvathi idol from Thanjavur traced in Indiana museum - !! but .. !!!

We go to Temples and pray before God  - we have immense faith in our traditions. There are so many beautiful temples all over Tamil Nadu, in existence for centuries.

Though not much of web presence, ThiruPaampuram is a small village in Thiruvarur Dist – Kudavasal taluk.  This place with origins to Chola dynasty lies near Kollumangudi on the way to Karaikal from Kumbakonam.  A famous temple of Sri Seshapureeswarar exists here.  The antiquity is revealed by the inscriptions  dating back to Rajaraja, Rajendra Chozha, Saraboji kings.  Many artists hail from here – famous being Nadaswaravidwan Thirupampuram Nataraja Sundaram Pillai and his son N Swaminatha Pillai.

Hundreds of thousand miles away – otherwise unconnected is the US State of Indiana in the mid-western and Great Lakes regions of North America.

The David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA) is an art museum located in the Fine Arts building on the campus of Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA. It is named  in honour of David Owsley, grandson of Frank C. Ball (one of the five Ball Brothers), to recognize his donations of $5 million and over 2,300 works of art. The museum is home to approximately 11,000 works (mostly paintings, photographs, prints and sculptures).

Image credit : www.ice.gov

In 2005, it acquired a Chola-era idol of Shiva- Parvathi from Subhash Kapoor's Art of the Past gallery in New York ~ without realizing that the  provenance papers of this statue are fake, given Kapoor's record. Today’s Times of India reports that US Govt has seized the idol or rather voluntarily returned.  Yet another bronze idol looted from a Tamil Nadu temple allegedly by Subhash Kapoor has been returned by a museum in the US to the country's department of homeland security (DHS) this week. Ball State University's Owsley Museum has returned the Chola bronze statue of Shiva and Parvati to DHS.

Heritage enthusiast S Vijay Kumar, who has helped to locate stolen temple idols in many countries, had located this statue in the museum.TOI in July 2015 had reported that it was sold to the museum by Subhash Kapoor for $100,000 in April 2005.Kapoor had a fraudulent provenance attributed to art collector Leo Figiel who claimed that he acquired the idol from a European collection in1969 -  most Kapoor provenances go back to this year since 1970 is the cut-off year set by UN for transfer of cultural property . “The bronze sculpture of Shiva and Parvati, from the Chola Period, measuring 5 x 12.25 x 6 inches, was sourced illegally from India under the direction of Kapoor and smuggled into the US. Around 2004, the stolen idol was delivered to Kapoor's former Madison Avenue gallery , Art of the Past,” said a DHS release.The release quoted the museum director Robert La France as saying that the department had presented convincing evidence that the work was stolen and its documentation was false. In July, TOI had reported that the base of the statue has an inscription in Tamil that reads: “Thipampaapuram Sivigai Naayagar.”  TOI had attempted to trace this village.

At Dheepambalpuram in Thanjavur, Thyagarajan, the priest at the local Shiva temple, said there may have been such a “pradoshamurthy“ in the temple but had got damaged many decades ago. Though present HR&CE records do not show such an idol, it is possible that the statue was lost or stolen long back from the temple.Vijay Kumar who had helped to gather evidence says that the Ball State bronze's hand and feet had indeed been damaged and a poor repair had been attempted. While it is not yet established that the idol does belong to present-day Dheepambalpuram, the priest Thyagarajan says the temple has 27 bronze idols that are ancient and some have similar inscriptions on their pedestal.

What a sad state of affairs – the idol that should have been worshipped in a Temple built by Kings centuries ago – gets stolen, there appears much evidence to trace it back – yet the authorities who manage the temple do not even know what the Temple should have had.

Temples are religious places – Every temple has its own significance brought by the Lord there – certainly nothing to do with the management – and Officials clamour for obtaining ISO certificates for temples.  As if these are business houses, they have Vision Mission statements.  Here is one certification for a very famous temple : To provide high quality service through safety, security, queue facilities for darshan, ‘annadhanam' to devotees, maintaining cleanliness in the temple premises by office administration.”

~ and you may get to read the Quality policy of the Temple too, displayed in various languages. 

PS :  many thanks to Times of India and Mr S Vijayakumar for their efforts.

sad state of Sri Sundararaja Perumal Kovil at Virugambakkam

Names might differ ~ in olden times, philanthropists did fed the poor and donated their assets for maintenance and continuance of rituals in Temples.

Most Temples possess land and other property ~ sadly, those managed by HR&CE are in no great shape.  In many places, they are unable to collect rent. and are apathetic.

One can see billboards kept in the Temples announcing the defaulters ~ alongside those who failed to pay, those who did nothing to collect mounting dues should also be held accountable.  If measly rents accumulate to lakhs of rupees – who is to blame !!

Here is another sad story -  that of Sri Sundara Raja Perumal at Virugambakkam – according to this report, instead of evicting those who have occupied, the management is contemplating collecting rent … Sad !!

another Hindu temple razed in Pakistan... does anybody care ?!?!?

Tando Allahyar is a town in Sindh, Pakistan. It is the capital ofTando Allahyar District. ~ and here is a photo of the temple there known as ‘Ramapir’ temple – these are becoming a rarity or the ones that could be read only in newspapers due to intolerance and hatred of the land….

It is common history that after  Pakistan gained independence from Britain on 14 August 1947, approximately 6 million of the country's minority Hindus and Sikhs had to migrate to India. Similarly, nearly an equal number of Muslims left India to live in Pakistan. Today, only 26 out of Pakistan's 428 Hindu temples exist. The 1998 Census of Pakistan recorded less than 2.5 million Hindus. The overwhelming majority of Hindus in Pakistan are concentrated in the Sindh province. In 1951, Hindus constituted 22% of the Pakistani population;  now the share of Hindus is down to 1.7% in Pakistan, and 9.2% in Bangladesh.

The Sindh kingdom and its rulers play an important role in the  great epic – Mahabharat. Legend has it that the city of  Lahore was first founded by Lava, while Kasur was founded by his twin Kusha, both of whome were the sons of Rama.  The Gandhara kingdom of the northwest, and the legendary Gandhara peoples are also a major part of Hindu literature such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Most Pakistani city names (such as Peshawar, Multan) can be traced back to Sanskrit roots.

In Dec last, a 100-year-old temple was  demolished in Pakistan, angry Hindus asked Govt to arrange tickets to India.  PTI Karachi reported on 3.12.12 that a century-old temple in Karachi was hurriedly demolished by a builder despite a Pakistani court hearing a petition seeking a stay on such a move, triggering protests by the minority Hindu community on Sunday. Besides razing the pre-Partition Shri Rama Pir Mandir in Karachi's Soldier Bazar, the builder demolished several houses near it. Nearly 40 people, a majority of them Hindus, became homeless as a result, The Express Tribune reported.   Following the demolition, the Pakistan Hindu Council organised a protest outside the Karachi Press Club

Now today’s Daily Mail carries a news titled :

Pakistan fails to save a Hindu temple... So is anyone really surprised?

By Reema Abbasi 20  December 2013

How is an Islamic place of worship more significant than that of another faith? This question has come to haunt Pakistan now more than ever before.  This week, the Hindu community staged a massive protest at the Karachi Press Club to save the remaining portion of a 100-year-old Mari Mata Temple in the old quarters of Soldier Bazar in Karachi.  This time, a temple was easy prey for commercial gain as opposed to Islamist brutality.  Equality: The priority of Islam in Pakistan has resulted in negligence towards Hinduism in the country

The historic structure was attacked by land-grabbers at the behest of a builder who wants the land for a shopping mall. So far, a portion of the temple has been razed and a dozen Hindu clans that lived in its surrounding area have been forced to evacuate, to subsist under the open sky.

This is not the first Hindu temple to be demolished in the metropolis; another Mari Mata Mandir was brought down last year in the name of commercialism. The Pakistan Hindu Sabha is duly infuriated with the provincial government, the Ministry of Minority Affairs and above all, Sindh's ruling party, the supposedly secular Pakistan Peoples Party.  Each time push comes to shove, all their lofty claims of safeguarding tolerance and equality evaporate.  Hence, the association is left with little choice other than organising mass protests and chalking out a strategy whereby their temple is restored, as are the homes in its area.

It is more than pertinent to mention that the Mata Mari Temple and its plot comes under the Evacuee Trust Protection Board and has existed along with the residents prior to Partition.  For this reason, the Hindu families residing there for over 70 years should have ownership rights to their properties against a nominal fee. There is little evidence to negate the idea that such religious insensitivity has only raised its hideous head after hardliners and madressas mushroomed across the landscape. It seems to have reached a crescendo following cries from popular leaders asking for a peace process with criminals rather than holding them accountable for bloodshed.

Currently, activists and analysts see it as another pretext to generate religious apartheid.  Pakistan's establishment has to recognize the crying need of the hour - to make an example of this criminal incident by hauling up perpetrators, initiating restoration and institutuionalising the most eminent of values - a country that celebrates God must recognize all that is human.

The writer is a columnist based in Karachi

Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2526609/Pakistan-fails-save-Hindu-temple.html & a couple of photos from : http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/

Below Hindu temples in Pakistan being attacked and demolished............