Milk owner pour milk on the drain – what ails Triplicane cattle owners !

Milk owner pour milk on the drain – what ails Triplicane cattle owners !

தரையில் பாலை கொட்டி போராட்டம்  ~  felt sad on reading this.  Triplicane is a land of Sri Parthasarathi – different people have co-existed for ages.

In the last decade or so - the bovine menace in the streets of Triplicane has become unbearable, believe me, even for one who lived in the congested Nagoji Rao street nearer Samarao school for a short while.  Stray cattle, sometimes aggressive have threatened and harmed people, especially old aged.  Children are afraid of walking alone, hurriedly cross the roads in the fear of these animals. 

The Triplicane we knew of 1960, 70s, 80s was different – there were koshalas, cowhered and hundreds of cattle .. .. at Nagoji, opp to Kellet High School, there was this person at Sengalvarayan who had breeding bulls, at near NKT girls high school, at Venkatrangam lanes, Arimuthu lanes and more more places.  One could get fresh ‘cow milk or think buffalo milk’ of choice ! – the maadu would be walked along, tied before the house, pathiram shown to customer showing that it had no water, milk the cow and handover fresh milk – people bought buffalo milk too.  Jokes would be found in magazines on how so much of water gets added to milk.   There were black solid big buffaloes – reportedly Delhi murrah ones  –  capable of providing litres of milk more.   

Mid 1970s changed lives -  Aavin made a big entry taking away the share – people started lining up before Aavin booths – the bottles and later day milk sachets, became the staple source. Understand that aavin too is staggering with its competitors.   

There was a time when people were too loyal and would buy milk only from specified owner – what has happened – when did the gap became unbridgeable – are their individuals who buy milk from the local cattle owners – if not, how this happened ? – what pushed them away ? – was it the cost ? – was it the vagary of supply – or friendliness lost ? – cattleonwers should have pondered these – whatsoever it could be wasting milk by draining it could be symbolic but serves no purpose – none at all !!

-      and is there something the local residents could do – some effort to support these cowherds – can they start some little quantity at least

-      perhaps some may come forward, if the cattle-owners stop injecting their herds with hormonal injections on the street and stop producing chemical milk

-      none would like to keep the cows and buffalo away from our normal daily lives

-      only little effort of conciliation, compassion and friendliness required is what I believe.

-      Can there be newer efforts in storing, packing, delivering

-      Would people prefer fresh ones rather than pasteurised milk

-      Do people know that what they buy from aavin is neither ‘cow milk’ – nor ‘buffalo milk’ but admixture

-      It is homogenised too - Homogenization is the process of breaking down the fat molecules in milk so that they stay integrated rather than separating as cream. Homogenization is a purely physical process; nothing is added to the milk.

Bigger stronger Social service Organisations and caste associations of Triplicane including that of Yadava Sabha may have a role .. .. not many would know that the big Organisation housed opp to Hindu Sr Sec School – famously known as TUCS is more than a century old and was the frist consumer coop society.  Can it venture into milk vending organising these cattle owners or someone organises these people to form their own coop society – something needs to be done !

Do you feel something is possible ??  -  now read the news that appeared in Dinamalar

மாட்டுத் தொழுவத்தில் தரையில் பாலை கொட்டி போராடும் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள்.

சென்னை, மார்ச்.31-

டீக்கடைகள், ஓட்டல்கள் மூடப்பட்டதால் வாழ்வாதாரம் போனதாக கூறி சென்னையில் பால் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் தரையில் பாலைக் கொட்டி நூதன போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

போராட்டம் : கொரோனா தொற்று தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கையாக தமிழகத்தில் 144 தடை உத்தரவு போடப்பட்டுள்ளது. காய்கறி, பழங்கள் போன்ற அத்தியாவசிய பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யும் கடைகள், மருந்தகங்கள், ஆஸ்பத்திரிகள், பெட்ரோல் பங்குகள் தவிர அனைத்து கடைகளும் மூடப்பட்டுள்ளன. இந்தநிலையில் டீக்கடைகள், ஓட்டல்கள் மூடப்பட்டதால் தங்கள் வாழ்வாதாரம் பறிபோனதாக கூறி நூதன போராட்டத்தில் பால் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் நேற்று ஈடுபட்டனர்.

வாழ்வாதாரம் பாதிப்பு : சென்னை திருவல்லிக்கேணியில் உள்ள மாட்டுத் தொழுவத்தில் நேற்று சுமார் 300 லிட்டர் அளவு பசும் பாலை தரையில் கொட்டி பால் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் தங்கள் எதிர்ப்பை அரசுக்கு தெரிவித்தனர்.

இதுகுறித்து பால் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் கூறியதாவது:-  சென்னையில் ஆயிரக்கணக்கான பால் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் உள்ளார்கள். தினமும் பசு மாடுகளில் இருந்து பெறப்படும் பாலை ஓட்டல்கள், டீக்கடைகளுக்கு வினியோகம் செய்து வருகிறார்கள். இந்த நிலையில் கடைகள் மூடப்பட்டதால் எங்களது வாழ்வாதாரம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. பொதுமக்களும் பயம் காரணமாக எங்களிடம் பாலை பெற யோசிக்கிறார்கள். இதனால் எங்களிடம் உள்ள பாலை என்ன செய்வதென்றே தெரியவில்லை. மாடுகளுக்கு தீவனம் வாங்குவதற்கு கூட வழியில்லாமல் தவிக்கிறோம். எனவேதான் பாலை தரையில் கொட்டி போராடுகிறோம்.

அரசு உதவ வேண்டும் :  எங்களின் நிலைமையை உணர்ந்து ஆவின் மற்றும் கூட்டுறவு சங்கங்கள் மூலம் எங்களிடமிருந்து பசும் பாலை கொள்முதல் செய்ய அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். அரசின் உதவியை எதிர்பார்த்து காத்திருக்கிறோம். வருமானம் இன்றி தவிக்கும் எங்களுக்கு அரசுதான் உதவ வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

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.

Court condemns HR&CE for failure to protect theft in Temples

Sadly, very sadly ~ Temples are under the vicious grip of Government, governed through HR&CE  - none of the devotees dare ask – why conducting feeding on the day of a former CM inside temples with temple funds – wny not in any other religious place ? – and more importantly, why administer only Hindu temples ???

It is baffling – the grave crime that gets committed at Temples – a form of organized looting.  Recently,  the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) Department released statistics  that 1,204 idols belonging to temples in the State were stolen between 1992 and 2017 – that gives rise to 2 fundamental Qs..

1.      What is action taken ?? -  how many recovered ??

2.      How many idols were stolen prior to that period and what is HR& CE doing ?

In Temples one could find boards showing details of defaulters – running into lakhs and remaining unpaid for a decade or so.. .. with measly rents, if it were to accumulate to lakhs – whose fault and what action – what action against those administrators who have not taken any measures to protect the Temple property that they claim to manage and realize reasonable rent !!   Recently, the HR&CE Department filed a counter affidavit in the Madras High Court listing out idols which were stolen from temples in Tamil Nadu. According to the department, between 1992 and 2017, as many as 1,204 idols — 372 stone and 832 bronze — belonging to 387 temples were reported to be missing.

Worser still -  the  Madras high court on Friday censured the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department for failing to protect, preserve and maintain temple idols.

“If the idols are kept locked up without any maintenance, what is the purpose of having such a department,” Justice R Mahadevan asked, adding that the situation is the same in the 1,700 temples that he had visited in the state. The criticism by the judge pertained to the theft of several ancient idols from the state’s temples.  The court made the observation after IG Pon Manickavel, chief of idol wing, informed the court that most of the antique idols were not properly maintained by the department.  The judge then directed the additional advocate-general Aravindh Pandian, the commissioner of HR&CE and IG Pon Manickavel to sit and finalise the steps to implement various guidelines issued by the court in connection with the preservation and maintenance of idols. 

In a recent hearing, pulling up the Tamil Nadu government for failing to cooperate in investigations connected to idol thefts, the court warned that it would be compelled to order a CBI probe into the cases, if such attitude of the authorities continued. The observations were made on two separate pleas moved by R Venkataraman and advocate Elephant G Rajendran seeking transfer of investigation on all the pending cases of idol thefts to the CB-CID.

In July, 2017 the court overruled the transfer of Pon Manickavel out of the idol wing police and directed the officer to head the wing again. The court further ordered transfer of all the cases pending in various courts across the state, prosecuted by the Idol wing, to the file of the additional chief judicial magistrate, Kumbakonam, for speedy disposal on a day-to-day basis.

Recently there was news that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department  launched a survey of idols in the 4,000-and-odd temples in the Salem region. The initiative was following the unearthing of yet another idol smuggling racket and recovery of a large number of idols stolen from the temples across the State.  More than 4,000 temples are attached to the HR and CE Department in the four districts - districts of Salem, Namakkal, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri.

Sad, they do not know what they have in possession, they cannot protect, some officials collude to – and they take and keep the God away from Temple in lockers. Only Sarweswaran can give some knowledge to these hay and save the Temples.

~ allikkeni Mainthan.

18^th Feb 2018.

fire at Sri Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple ~ remove all shops & offices immediately

Sri Madurai Meenakshi amman temple is a very famous temple ~ it would only be appropriate to say that people visit Madurai for worshipping the Goddess and it is not people visiting Madurai have darshan at this temple.

It stands adding lustre to the Temple town of Madurai ~ the great Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple – aka – Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, located on the south banks of river Vaigai.  The presiding deity is Goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvathi and her consort Sundareeswarar, the manifestation of Shiva.  The Temple has pride of place in Sangam literature. 

The Temple is many many centuries old -  the present campus structure was rebuilt after the 14^th  century CE, further repaired, renovated and expanded in the 17^th  century by  great ruler Thirumalai Nayakkar.   In early 14^th century,  the armies of Delhi Sultanate led by Muslim Commander Malik Kafur plundered the temple, looted it of its valuables and destroyed the Madurai temple town along with many other temple towns of South India.  Vijayanagara Empire rulers  rebuilt the core and reopened the temple.  The famed temple now has 14 gopurams (gateway towers), ranging from 45–50m in height, with the southern gopura tallest at 51.9 metres (170 ft). The complex has numerous sculpted pillared halls such as Ayirakkal (1,000 pillar hall), Kilikoondu-mandapam, Golu-mandapam and Pudu-mandapam.

Recently in 2017, the famed temple was   adjudged the best ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ (clean place) in India. Ten spots were identified by the Central government as part of the ‘Swachh Iconic Places’ initiative  and  Madurai City Corporation became recipient of  a special award from the Centre as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.  District Collector and Corporation Commissioner received the honours.  The officials claimed that as  part of the recognition as Swachh Iconic Place, a project had been conceived to clean the periphery of the temple, and was slated to be completed by March 2018. The project is estimated to cost ₹11.65 crore and has been sponsored by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity.

It is common knowledge that temples in Tamil Nadu are under Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments – the money that pours in to the Temple hundials are taken over by HR&CE and the Government and are used for all and sundry – wide away for the purposes for which such donations big and small are made.  Temples are neglected and officials do not care to maintain the religious, spiritual or physical cleanliness of the temples ~ sad, is the state of affairs.  While the revenue of major temples enrich the coffers of the Govt, nothing is done to take care, maintain, upkeep or least ensure that basic poojas are conducted in Temples. Who cares !

Adding to the sordid affairs, there are shops and commercial establishments minting money from the devotees ~ in every Temple, such shops run by individuals either do not pay rent or pay a measly price, many a times managed by politicians and goons.  The authorities do not take any action for obvious reasons – either aligning themselves or simple negligent. 

From the morning media abuzz with reports that a  massive fire  broke out on the premises of the famous Meenakshi temple was put out in the early hours of Saturday and the devotees were allowed to offer the morning prayers.  The reports put that the  fire reduced 40 shops to ashes. "The hall with 1,000 pillars, which houses the temple museum, has not suffered any damage," District Collector Veera Raghava Rao, who supervised the fire-fighting operations, told reporters. He added that a special team was formed to look into the impact of the fire on the temple, especially the 7,000-square foot Vasantharayar Mandapam, "which has been affected". There were no casualties, the collector said, adding that a police investigation was underway, primarily because the fire broke out in the night. 

Other reports state that the major fire destroyed  atleast 30 shops located inside the East Tower of the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai.   A preliminary probe revealed that the fire broke out late on Friday night due to an electrical short-circuit in one of the shops situated near the 1,000-pillar hall. About 40 shops, selling puja articles and toys, were gutted in the fire and steps were being taken to clear the area of smoke, the police said.

According to  a flower vendor at the temple,  the mortar paste had peeled off at several places inside the Vasantharayar hall, while the paintings on the roof were destroyed. Besides, two pillars got dislocated in the impact of the fire, a temple official said on the condition of anonymity. The east tower entrance of the temple has temporarily been shut for cleanup works and the devotees are being allowed inside through the other gates.

Meanwhile, various Hindu outfits staged a protest, demanding relocation of the shops from the temple premises. It is not out of place to point out that a Hindu Munnani leader who had earlier pleaded removal of shops in the temple complex was murdered a decade ago.  A huge posse of police personnel has been deployed in and around the temple.

Sad is the state of affairs ! ~ if the heritage and richness of the Temple is to be preserved all shops must be removed from the Temple compound and so be the Office – can not the administration function from any building outside the Temple Complex ?  ~ and this would apply to all Temples managed (!) by HR & CE

அரசே ஆலயத்தை விட்டு வெளியேறு !

~  ஆலய காணிக்கைகளை இறைவனுக்காக மட்டுமே செலவிடு.

ஆலய காணிக்கை வேறு எந்த திட்டத்துக்கும் செல்லக்கூடாது.

ஆலய நிலங்களை அரசு தானம் செய்யக்கூடாது.

****************************