In a powerful display of unity, Hindus in Tamil Nadu have come together to take a strong stand against repeated attempts to establish a Christian discourse in the State and denigrate Hindu belief systems. The latest trigger, or shall we say ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’, was the targeting of Chennimalai Temple and the attempt to rename it as ‘Jesus Malai’ or ‘Kalwari Malai’. Over 10,000 people from across the State participated in a massive protest against this development, sending a strong message of Hindu unity and resistance to attempts to change the cultural and religious nature of the region.
The 3000-year-old Chennimalai Temple, in Erode district, is devoted to Bhagwan Murugan and has deep historical and cultural significance for Hindus. Chennimalai is known as Siragiri and Chenniyangiri in Devanagiri, and Chennimalai in Tamil. The hill is also referred to as Sigaragiri, Pushpagiri, and Siragiri. Notably, the revered hymn Kanda Sashti Kavacham,’dedicated to Bhagwan Murugan, was first performed by Sri Bala Devaraya Swamigal at this temple.
Unauthorised prayer meetings of evangelists in Hindu residential areas have been frequently reported in the state for some time now. In these gatherings disparaging comments are made about Hindu deities, deeply offending Hindu residents.
The latest escalation occurred during one such event on September 17 at the residence of John Peter in Kathakkodi Kaadu, leading to a confrontation between members of the Hindu Munnani and the BJP on one side and those conducting the unauthorised prayer meeting on the other. John Peter’s video, in which he threatened Hindus and declared the intent to convert Hindus and rename Chennimalai, went viral. The arrest of some Hindu leaders in this case further raised tensions.
Christian organisations, predominantly an outfit called ‘Christian Munnani’, organised a demonstration on September 26 where speakers openly expressed the intent to rename Chennimalai hill as ‘Kalvari Hill’ and ‘Yesu Hill’. These demonstrations also featured highly offensive rhetoric against Hindu gods and veiled threats against those opposing their plans.
Various Christian organisations and political groups, including the Revolutionary Youth Front, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and MDMK, even demanded action against those opposing the prayer meetings! These developments enraged Hindu Munnani and other organizations, prompting them to call a massive protest on October 13. The protest saw the participation of over 10,000 people from across Tamil Nadu.
A MASSIVE PROTEST
Protesters at the Chennimalai rally waved saffron flags as they demanded that the Tamil Nadu government take action against those responsible for the proposed name change and provocative speeches. They named Tamil Nadu Minorities Commission Chairman S Peter Alphonse and TN Assembly Speaker M Appavu, accusing them of supporting activities aimed at name changes and conversions.
Speakers raised concerns about attempts by Abrahamic religions to change the names of places related to Hindu legends, especially temples atop hills. They cited instances where unauthorised prayer meetings were held in contravention of the law and rules, and new places of worship were established without the permission of the District Collector. The protesters highlighted the importance of maintaining the serenity of residential areas by adhering to rules that restrict prayer meetings and warned of legal action if such attempts continued.
Hindu Munnani raised concerns about encroachments by Christians through the installation of crosses in various places, including Accharappakkam Hill, Thandarai Kuppam Hill, and others. They questioned whether the authorities were consciously turning a blind eye to such violations and called for judicial intervention in cases of apparent disregard for law. The protesters also celebrated their success in preventing the renaming of places with historical and cultural significance, such as Kanyakumari. In some instances, authorities sealed premises where illegal prayer meetings were held, thanks to public support.
The massive protest in Chennimalai reflects the deep-rooted concerns and sentiments of the Hindu community in Tamil Nadu. The people now seek accountability, preservation of cultural heritage, and protection against attempts to alter the religious and cultural identity of the region. On October 18, the Chennimalai Police arrested one Joseph alias Saravanan for trying to incite communal violence through his remarks. Joseph had conducted the illegal prayer meetings at John Peter’s house. He has been remanded to judicial custody. Police are looking for another person named Stephan. Chennai-based advocate B Jagannath has also filed a complaint to file FIR and arrest John Peter and others in the Chennimalai issue. Jagannath is the one who filed quo warranto petition in the Supreme Court against Udhaya Nidhi Stalin for his Sanatan Dharma comments.
ARCHBISHOP APOLOGISES
Following the strong Hindu reaction across the State, Archbishop of Anglican Church released a video apologising for the Chennimalai incident. In the video Archbishop Gunasekaran Samuel, of the Anglican Church of South India & North India Missionary Diocese, apologised on behalf of the Christian community and acknowledged the inappropriateness of Christians praying at the site.
“Regarding the issue of Chennimalai, I have been watching all the channels. This has caused me a lot of sadness. Especially, dear Christian friends, it was a very wrong thing to go to Chennimalai and pray. They should not have done that. That is the truth. It was a very wrong thing for Christian friends to go to Chennimalai and pray. That is, it is not mentioned in the Bible that you have to go to the place where others are praying and pray to Jesus,” he said in the video.
The Archbishop also condemned these actions and called for action, saying, “So, this Government must take action against such people. This Tamil Nadu government must take action against such people. If the Tamil Nadu government does not take action, it only means that they are hand in glove with them.”
The Archbishop acknowledged the potential for damage to the reputation of the Christian community, saying, “There is no doubt that the entire Christian community will get the wrong name because of such a thing. So, please understand this. Especially, they say that they are Christian Munnani. That Christian Munnani is a new thing, even our Christians do not know about it. We do not know what it is.”
“So, I would like to apologize to all my dear brothers and sisters who belong to the Hindu religion. I apologize on behalf of the Christians for this incident that took place using the name of Christians. Please forgive me. We do not need any hatred among us,” he said.
It’s worth noting that Archbishop Samuel has been a supporter of the BJP and has praised its efforts in treating all religions equally. He had previously expressed his belief that minorities were safe and were receiving more benefits under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
SIMILAR INCIDENTS
The Chennimalai controversy is not an isolated incident in Tamil Nadu. There have been ongoing disputes related to religious sites, encroachments, and attempts to rename sacred places, particularly involving Hindu temples and hills. These incidents have led to longstanding tensions and demands for Government intervention.
In a series of contentious incidents affecting Tamil Nadu’s heritage and religious sites, allegations of land encroachments and disputes have caught the public’s attention. These ongoing disputes have caused unrest among the local communities, sparking legal battles and debates. Located approximately 95 kilometers from Chennai along the Chennai-Trichy highway, the Vajragiri hill is home to the sacred Pasupathiswarar temple. Local Hindus have alleged that they have been denied access to the temple due to encroachments on the hill. Efforts to reclaim the area from encroachers have been going on for several years, reflecting the complexity and sensitivity of the issues involved.
A religious organisation, Jesus Redeems, has acquired 108 acres of land in the mountainous region of Thoranamalai, near Kadayam in the Tenkasi district. They have plans to establish a modern city on this land. According to the Jesus Redeems website, the founder, Brother Mohan C Lazarus, claimed to have received divine guidance to acquire this mountainous area. The land was donated by a devotee, raising questions about the nature of the acquisition. In another highly contentious case, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court recently refused to halt Islamic activities, including namaz, on the Thiruparankundram Hill, which is also home to the Sri Subramanya Swamy temple. This dispute has intensified as some groups seek to rename the hill as ‘Sikkandar Hill’, claiming that a saint by that name passed away on the hill. The court’s decision to permit namaz activities for 30 minutes, particularly during Bakrid, has ignited tensions in the region. This emboldened certain groups to carry out activities on the hill, leading to allegations of encroachment and opposition from Hindu outfits. Thiruparankundram is one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan, making this a matter of significant religious importance.
Local Hindu organisations have long been opposing such encroachments and urging the government to take action to remove encroachers. They contend that such incidents are part of a larger pattern. The latest attempt to rename the Chennimalai Murugan Temple, the unauthorised Christian prayer meetings, and the ensuing tensions are but an addition to the complex and sensitive situation in Tamil Nadu. The situation now demands attention and resolution from all stakeholders.
POLITICAL CONTEXT AND ANTI-HINDU SPEECHES
The political backdrop is marked by controversial anti-Hindu statements made by DMK ministers and MPs, leading to increased tension. Youth minister Udhaya Nidhi Stalin, for instance, compared Sanatan Dharma to diseases like Dengue and Malaria, while DMK MP A Raja likened it to Leprosy and AIDS, calling for its eradication. These statements received nationwide attention, intensifying the sentiments of the Hindu community. Notably, while the chanting of “Jai Sri Ram” at a cricket event was labeled as “unacceptable” by some, there was a different approach to public expressions of religious identity. Tamil Nadu’s sports minister, Udayanidi Stalin, faced criticism for his interpretation that “Jai Shri Ram” was communal while “Allahu Akbar” was secular. The consolidation of Hindu sentiment against the continuous onslaught by those holding political and administrative power in the region holds long-term significance.
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