Tamil Nadu: Row erupts as Muslim woman performs namaz in Chennai’s Mylapore Sivan Mandir

CHENNAI: A recent incident at the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai has sparked widespread outrage among Hindu communities, raising concerns over religious sanctity and minority encroachments on Hindu places of worship in Tamil Nadu. The controversy began when a Muslim woman, identified as Ayeesha Baanu from Neelangarai, performed namaz within the temple premises, violating long-standing religious norms.

The incident took place on August 24, 2024, when Baanu entered the famous Sivan temple and conducted her prayers. She later shared a video of the act on social media, further fueling the controversy. The Bharath Hindu Munnani (BHM), a prominent Hindu organization, swiftly demanded an investigation into the incident, alleging that it was a deliberate provocation and a violation of the temple’s sanctity.

Dillibabu, the State Secretary of BHM, submitted a formal petition to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Commissioner, urging a thorough investigation into the matter. The organisation expressed concern that such incidents could be part of a broader agenda to undermine Hindu religious practices and spaces in Tamil Nadu, a state already grappling with tensions between religious communities.

The incident has also drawn attention to previous cases of non-Hindus entering and performing religious activities in Hindu temples. Earlier this year, in February, a woman was caught reading the Bible inside the Kapaleeswarar Temple, prompting a similar outcry. These incidents have occurred despite a ruling by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which declared that individuals of other religions should not be allowed beyond the Kodimaram (sacred flagpole) in Hindu temples. This ruling emphasised that temples are not public places but sacred spaces meant exclusively for devotees of the respective deities.

However, the implementation of this ruling has been inconsistent, with critics accusing the Dravidian model government and the HR&CE department of failing to enforce it effectively. The recent incident at the Mylapore Sivan temple has reignited these concerns, with many fearing that Hindu rights, culture, and places of worship are increasingly under threat.

Following the incident, Balamurugan, a temple employee, filed a complaint with the Mylapore Police Station on August 29, 2024. The complaint has since been forwarded to the Cybercrime Division, and the video of the namaz has been removed from YouTube. The BHM has urged the police to investigate the motives behind Baanu’s actions and to take appropriate legal action. They have also requested that footage from the temple’s security cameras and police surveillance be preserved for review.

In recent weeks, a series of incidents at Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu have sparked significant controversy and debate regarding the participation of individuals from other faiths in religious practices. The Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha (BHM) has raised concerns following an incident at the Kapaleeswarar temple, where a Muslim woman led prayers, echoing a previous occurrence involving a Christian woman who prayed with a Bible at the same site. The BHM is advocating for clear signage at Hindu temples to prohibit non-Hindus from participating in religious activities, emphasising the need for vigilance from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) department.

The situation escalated in November when police entered the Mylapore Karpagambal temple to apprehend members of the Hindu Munnani, including spokesperson AT Elangovan, without a formal complaint from temple authorities. This action has been interpreted as a show of force by the DMK government, raising questions about the rights of devotees to practice their faith freely. During a prayer session, while chanting “Om Namashivaya,” the group was interrupted by uniformed officers, who prevented them from continuing their supplication to God.

Critics argue that while Hindus are restricted from chanting in their own temples, individuals from Abrahamic faiths are allowed to perform their rituals, such as namaz and Bible readings, without similar scrutiny. This perceived double standard has fueled discontent among Hindu groups, who feel their religious practices are being undermined.

The situation is further complicated by the broader context of religious practices in public spaces. Reports indicate that Muslims have been conducting prayers in various public areas, including roads and beaches, leading to traffic disruptions. When questioned about these practices, representatives from the Muslim community assert that they are exercising their constitutional rights to practice their faith.

In Assam, the government has recently eliminated Friday namaz leave, prompting protests from Congress and its allies. However, similar actions against non-Hindu religious practices in Tamil Nadu have not received widespread condemnation. The BHM has called for a thorough investigation into the Kapaleeswarar temple incident and has requested that police preserve CCTV footage from the days surrounding the event, as there are claims that evidence has been deleted.

Political commentator Bala Gauthaman has raised further questions about the handling of the situation, noting that a private video channel recorded the incident but later removed the content following public outrage. He criticized the timing of the complaint, which was filed days after the incident occurred, and questioned why the HR and CE did not intervene at the time.

The discourse surrounding these incidents has also touched on broader themes of religious coexistence and the preservation of cultural heritage. Some voices within the community, like Suki Sivam, have suggested inviting Muslims to Hindu temples, which has been interpreted by some as an invitation for them to conduct prayers within these sacred spaces.

Concerns have also been raised about the potential transformation of Hindu temples into mosques or dargahs, with allegations of historical revisionism surrounding these sites. Reports of Christian groups taking photographs with Bibles in hand at various temples have added to the tension, as have claims from certain online platforms calling for violence against Hindu sites.

As the situation continues to unfold, many in Tamil Nadu are calling for a balanced approach that respects the rights of all religious communities while safeguarding the sanctity of Hindu temples. The ongoing arrests of individuals linked to extremist groups in the region further underscore the need for vigilance and dialogue among different faiths to foster understanding and coexistence.