CHENNAI: The Hindu Munnani has announced a mass protest scheduled for February 4th in response to escalating tensions in Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu. The protest aims to condemn alleged attempts by Muslim groups, particularly those steered by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political arm of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), to foment communal clashes and claim ownership over the sacred Thiruparankundram Hills. The issue has reignited historical disputes and raised fears of a controversy similar to Ayodhya, Mathura, and Kashi if swift action is not taken by the state government.
Sacred Abode of Bhagwan Murugan
Thiruparankundram, recognized as the first of the six abodes of Bhagwan Murugan, holds immense religious significance for Hindus. Situated atop the hill, the ancient temple attracts devotees from across the country. Historically, the site has witnessed disputes between Hindus and Muslims. In particular, Muslims have opposed Hindu rituals such as lighting lamps during the Karthigai Deepam festival, citing that the practice offends their religious sentiments. Some Muslims have even claimed that the hill belongs to the Waqf Board.
Controversial Non-Vegetarian Practices
Recent tensions escalated when Muslim groups, supported by the SDPI, announced plans to cook and distribute non-vegetarian food atop the sacred hill. This move, coupled with a ban imposed by the Madurai district police on transporting livestock for sacrifice to the Sikandar Badusha Dargah on the hill, has intensified the situation. Despite the ban, hundreds of Muslims gathered, attempting to carry goats up the hill for sacrifices, as reported in multiple social media posts.
#BREAKING || திருப்பரங்குன்றம் மலை
மீது உள்ள தர்காவிற்கு ஆடு, கோழிகளை எடுத்து செல்ல தடைதர்காவில் வழிபாடு நடத்துவதற்கு மட்டும் காவல்துறை அனுமதி
"கந்தூரி விழா நடத்துவதற்கு
ஆடு, கோழிகளை எடுத்துச் செல்லக்கூடாது"திருப்பரங்குன்றம் மலையடிவாரத்தில் குவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள காவல்துறை… pic.twitter.com/VtrgCgFO7R
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) January 18, 2025
The police said that the community was allowed to transport cooked meat and consume and pray on the hill, but the ban was only imposed on the transportation of livestock like chicken, goat, etc for sacrifice.
கோஷத்தை பாருங்க 😤
திருப்பரங்குன்றம் முருகன் கோவில் மலை மீது ஆடு, கோழிகளை அறுக்க திரண்ட பள்ளிவாசல் நிர்வாகிகள் இடும் கோஷம்.🚶 pic.twitter.com/4aaFBPr6Qh
— JEYAN J (@Kumari_Jeyan) January 18, 2025
Despite this hundreds of Muslims gathered carrying goats to proceed towards the top of the hill
தமிழ் கடவுள் முருக பெருமானின் அறுபடை வீட்டில் முதல்வீடு தான் திருப்பரங்குன்றம்
இன்று ஆட்டை வெட்டுவோம் பலி இடுவோமென்று தோளில் ஆட்டை தூக்கி கொண்டு போராட்டம் செய்கின்றனர்,
தமிழை வைத்து அரசியல் செய்யும் கட்சிகளும் உனக்கு வரவில்லை ஜாதி காரனுக்கு ஓட்டு கேட்கும் திராவிட கட்சிகளோ… pic.twitter.com/XjSQ0xX4Pq
— Bagavath Pratheep (@Bagavathprathee) January 18, 2025
Hindu Counteractions and Political Statements
In retaliation, the Hindu Munnani organised a symbolic yatra, carrying the Vel (Lord Murugan’s weapon) to the temple to assert their religious rights (Hindu Munnani TN). The police registered FIRs against both Hindu and Muslim groups, including SDPI and its allies, such as the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Dravidar Kazhagam, and Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK), for attempting to disrupt communal harmony.
திருப்பரங்குன்றத்தில் பரபரப்பு… 😱😱😱
கையில் வேலுடன் முருகனிடம் முறையீடு…திருப்பரங்குன்றம் மலையில் ஆடு வெட்டுவோம் என இ**லாமியர்கள் அறிவித்ததை அடுத்து மலை உச்சியில் தீபம் ஏற்றுவோம் என, மாநிலத்தலைவர் மற்றும் பொதுமக்களுடன் இணைந்து முருகனிடம் கையில் வேலுடன் முருகனிடம்… pic.twitter.com/3aa53qST8r
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) January 18, 2025
Adding to the controversy, Ramanathapuram DMK MP Nawas Kani’s visit to the temple, during which he consumed non-vegetarian biryani at the foothills of the sacred site, sparked outrage. Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai criticized the MP’s actions as a deliberate attempt to provoke Hindus, accusing the DMK of engaging in appeasement politics.
Muslims eating nonveg biryani on top of Tiruparankundram hill, one of the holy abodes of lord Murugan. This is D-stock secularism. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/36XjFTBUyZ
— Scarlet Heart 🐬 (@_Saffron_Girl_) January 22, 2025
H. Raja, BJP’s state convenor, demanded the MP’s arrest, labeling the incident as religious fanaticism. Raja said ” in the case of the Sree Skandhar Hills, day before yester day, a Member of Parliament came with the intention of religious fanaticism, claiming it was ‘Sikkandar Hills.’ It is not enough to file a case; he should be arrested because his party’s nature is like that. What is the name of his party? Manithaneya (Humanist) Makkal Katchi? There is nothing humane about it. Its roots are tied to Al-Umma, an extremist organization responsible for the 56-member massacre. Government should take action against him”.
https://x.com/HRajaBJP/status/1882110045615276040
The ownership of Thiruparankundram Hill has been a matter of legal and historical significance. Temple activist T.R. Ramesh pointed out that a 1931 Privy Council judgment unequivocally declared the hill as the property of the Thiruparankundram Temple (T.R. Ramesh). Despite this, Islamists continue to claim the hill, even attempting to rename it as “Sikkandar Hill” in honor of a saint purportedly buried there.
https://twitter.com/trramesh/status/1881320535390609428
Adding to the tensions, ancient Jain caves and inscriptions dating back to the 2nd century BCE, located on the hill and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), were recently vandalised with green paint. This act of sacrilege by Muslim groups further inflamed the situation.
குன்று இருக்கும் இடமெல்லாம் குமரன் இருப்பான் குமரன் இருக்கும் இடமெல்லாம் இந்து வழிபாட்டு முறைகளை தடுக்க அந்த அந்த இடங்களில் தர்ஹாக்களை உருவாக்குவது சூபீக்களின் நயவஞ்சகச் செயல் அந்த வரிசைகளில் சங்க காலம் தொட்டு சீரோடும் சிறப்போடும் விளங்கிய திருப்பரங்குன்றம் மலையை தொடர்ந்து 1/3 pic.twitter.com/L53oDmFmFa
— கோவை ஆனந்த் (@Covai_Anand) January 19, 2025
In a related development, ancient Jain caves at Thiruparankundram Hill were vandalized with green paint – an act of sacrilegious-by Muslim groups. Western side hill has ancient Jain beds with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions dating back to the 2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE. Further up the hill, Jain bas-reliefs of Parsvanatha and Mahavira from the 8th to 9th century, along with the locally named “Pancha Pandava” beds, emphasize the Thiruparankundram hill’s importance to Jainism. These are under ASI control.
Jain Caves Painted ‘Green’ At Thiruparankundram Hill Amidst Islamists Attempt To Rename It As ‘Sikandar’ Hill, DMK-Ally IUML MP Nawas Kani Had Earlier Gone With Islamists To Have Non-Veg Food At Hillhttps://t.co/CwMS2D7XI6
— Selvam 🚩 (@tisaiyan) January 23, 2025
Pillars in the Dhargah are similar to Hindu temple. it was during Muslims rule, a body of Muslaman was buried wantonly.
https://twitter.com/LawAcademics/status/1880865828784230616
Legal and Governmental Challenges
In June 2023, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court refused to stay Islamic activities on the hill, citing that allowing namaz for 30 minutes during Bakrid posed no harm. However, this decision has been criticized for enabling further disputes.
H. Raja highlighted how Muslim groups tied crescent-moon flags to the sacred Kallathi tree, the sthala vriksham of the temple, raising suspicions about their intentions to challenge Hindu claims over the site. Raja called for stricter government intervention to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
Hindu Munnani’s Stand and Call for Action
The Hindu Munnani’s planned protest on February 4th aims to draw attention to what it perceives as a pattern of encroachments by Muslim groups on Hindu religious sites. Leaders have warned that if the state government fails to take decisive action, the issue could escalate into a nationwide movement akin to the Ayodhya dispute.
