In a landmark ruling, the Madras High Court emphasised the importance of the Thevaram and Nalayira Divya Prabandham in the resurgence and preservation of India’s cultural heritage. The special division bench, consisting of Justices R. Mahadevan and P.D. Audikesavalu, underscored that these sacred texts are essential for sustaining the traditions and practices integral to the nation’s identity.
The court’s decision highlighted the neglect faced by low-income temples, urging the Tamil Nadu government to submit a comprehensive status report on the condition of all temples classified as “Divya Desams” (the 108 abodes of Vishnu praised by Alwars) and “Padal Petra Sthalams” (temples glorified in the hymns of Saivite saints).
The ruling came in response to a petition filed by M. Karthikeyan of West Mambalam. Karthikeyan sought government intervention to protect temples from deterioration and allow devotees to engage in Uzhavarapani, a voluntary effort to clean and maintain temple premises. Despite a previous court order permitting such activities, the petitioner noted that authorities from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department were obstructing these initiatives.
Justices Mahadevan and Audikesavalu criticised this neglect, stating, “The way in which the low-income temples are being neglected by the authorities shows a sorry state of affairs.” They stressed the vital role of community involvement in temple upkeep, particularly in maintaining temple tanks free from algae, waste, and plastic debris.
Justices R. Mahadevan and P.D. Audikesavalu wrote: “Hinduism, as coined by the British and known today, is an assortment of different cults with a polytheistic concept. Ancient scripts reveal that Buddhism and Jainism are also offshoots of Hinduism, with several common historical and legendary stories.”.
They said, “The temples in Tamil Nadu signify not only the sacredness but a reflection of the culture, tradition, too, as it also demonstrated the skill and techniques possessed by our ancestors in building the temples.”
the Madras High Court has directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department to establish committees in each district to inspect and report on the conditions of all temples classified as ‘Padal Petra Sthalams,’ ‘Vaippu Sthalams,’ and ‘Divya Shetrams or Desams.’ This directive aims to address the neglect and deterioration of these historically significant temples across Tamil Nadu.
The special division bench, comprising Justices R. Mahadevan and P.D. Audikesavalu, emphasised the urgent need to assess and improve the status of temple premises, including ponds, vegetation, and civil structures. The committees are required to document the condition of these temples and identify necessary repairs and maintenance tasks for pragarams (outer rings of temple premises) and gopurams (temple towers). The HR&CE department has been instructed to submit these reports within two weeks.
The court highlighted the importance of community involvement in temple upkeep, stating, “It is also clear from the rules that the participation of the public in the cleaning and maintenance activities is permissible.” The judges urged any Uzhavarapani voluntary groups interested in cleaning activities to apply, with requests to be considered within a week.
Upon receiving the necessary permissions, Uzhavarapani groups are authorised to clean temple premises, remove vegetation, clean temple ponds, and paint civil structures and gates with expert assistance. However, the court imposed strict limitations, clarifying that these groups are not allowed to repair or renovate inner pragarams, the Raja gopuram (prime temple tower), the sanctum sanctorum, deities, idols, paintings, or murals. They are also prohibited from removing any stones, broken idols, or structures from the temple premises.
The court instructed the Joint Commissioner of HR&CE to take immediate steps to carry out necessary maintenance work in the temples based on the reports submitted. The matter has been scheduled for a compliance report on June 5th.
Reflecting on the broader context, the judges noted that the Centre launched the Swachh Bharat mission in 2014, which includes an award for the cleanest temple. Despite this initiative, many low-income temples in Tamil Nadu suffer from poor upkeep, neglecting their archaeological importance. The court expressed concern over this state of affairs, underscoring the need for inclusive participation of devotees through Uzhavarapani to ensure better maintenance of temple properties.
The Madras High Court has emphasised the historical and cultural importance of maintaining temple cleanliness, tracing the practice back to the 7th century. The bench, consisting of Justices R. Mahadevan and P.D. Audikesavalu, pointed out that the tradition of devotees cleaning temples began with Saint Appar, also known as Thirunavukkarasar. Saint Appar, one of the revered composers of Thevaram hymns, was known for his dedication to removing vegetation and cleaning temple premises with a spade, or “unzhavaram,” in hand.
The court underscored the diversity within Hinduism, noting, “Hinduism, as coined by the British and known today, is an assortment of different cults with a polytheistic concept.” The judges referenced ancient scriptures that reveal Buddhism and Jainism as offshoots of Hinduism, sharing common historical and legendary narratives.
Citing The Hindu, the bench discussed the classification of six major cults, known as Shanmata, founded by Adi Sankara. These include Saivam (devotion to Lord Shiva), Vaishnavism (devotion to Lord Vishnu), Shaktism (worship of Goddess Shakti), Ganapatyam (devotion to Lord Ganesha), Kaumaram (devotion to Lord Murugan), and Sauram (worship of the Sun). The judges remarked, “The polytheistic concept imbibes the democratic and secular principles as they are called today.”
The court provided a comprehensive overview of the temple landscape in Tamil Nadu, stating, “There are more than 46,000 temples in Tamil Nadu, of which 40,156 are under the HR&CE department.” These temples are predominantly Saivite or Vaishnavite. The Saivite temples, particularly the Paadal Petra Sthalams and Vaippu Sthalams, hold significant importance. Paadal Petra Sthalams are temples visited and sung about by Saints Thirugnana Sambandar, Appar, and Sundarar between the 7th and 9th centuries, totaling 276, with 267 located in Tamil Nadu. Vaippu Sthalams, referenced in their hymns but not visited by the saints, number 249, with 189 in Tamil Nadu, and one claimed to be in the Gulf countries.
The bench noted the devotion of Saivites to these sacred sites, considering visits to these sthalams both sacred and a duty. The hymns sung by the three saints, part of the 63 Nayanmars (primary devotees of Lord Shiva), are collectively known as Thevaram, symbolising a garland of divine hymns. The court also mentioned that Saint Manikkavasagar, despite his profound contributions, is not considered a Nayanmar because he is believed to have attained oneness with Bhagwan Shiva.
The Madras High Court has underscored the importance of preserving Vaishnavite temples, particularly those mentioned in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4000 hymns by the 12 Alwars. The bench highlighted that these temples, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, are classified as 108 Divya Desams, with 84 located in Tamil Nadu. The court noted the non-discriminatory devotion of Nayanmars and Alwars, despite their different sects, and stressed the need to protect all these temples in the state.
The court’s directive follows concerns about the neglect of low-income temples. It mandated the formation of district committees to inspect and report on temple conditions, allowing Uzhavarapani volunteer groups to participate in cleaning activities.
TR Ramesh, president of the Temple Devotees Forum, praised the ruling on social media, stating, “One of the biggest setbacks received by Hindu Temples due to government control is the gradual removal of people coming together and doing voluntary services in the temples. The fraudulent control of temples by the TN Government over 70 years has systematically kept away devotees from temple seva.”
