Madurai, Tamil Nadu: In a major victory for Hindu devotees and temple priests, the Executive Officer (EO) of the Arulmigu Dhandayudhapani Swami Temple in Madurai has withdrawn a controversial circular that mandated temple priests to deposit all monetary offerings from devotees into the temple’s Hundial (donation box) or office. The move follows stiff opposition from devotees, activists, and Hindu organisations who condemned the directive as an attempt to exploit the already underpaid priests and interfere with traditional temple practices.
The circular, issued on February 7, 2024, stated that priests were not entitled to keep money placed in the aarthi plate during rituals, warning that “appropriate action would be taken against those who failed to deposit the offerings into the Hundial.” However, this move triggered immediate outrage, with critics accusing the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department of interfering in religious traditions and depriving Hindu priests of their meagre income.
#BREAKING || காணிக்கை உண்டியலில் போடும் சுற்றறிக்கை வாபஸ்
கோயிலில் அர்ச்சகர் தட்டில் விழும் காணிக்கையை உண்டியலில் போடும் உத்தரவு வாபஸ்
மதுரையில் பாலதண்டாயுதபாணி சுவாமி கோயிலில் கடந்த 7ம் தேதி செயல் அலுவலர் பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவு திரும்பப்பெறப்பட்டது
கடும் எதிர்ப்பு எழுந்த நிலையில்… pic.twitter.com/suRh6dUZW4
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) February 10, 2025
Hindu activists, including well-known temple rights campaigner TR Ramesh, challenged the legitimacy of the EO’s decision, arguing that the appointment of EOs and JCs in temples is illegal as per previous Supreme Court rulings. He encouraged affected devotees and priests to file legal complaints and seek an injunction from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court to prohibit HR&CE from implementing such measures without a legal mandate.
இந்தக் கடிதம் உண்மையெனில்-
கோயில் அர்ச்சகர்களோ அல்லது பக்தர்களோ இரு காரியங்கள் செய்யலாம்.
1. இந்தக் கோயிலில் @tnhrcedept செயல் அலுவலர் சட்ட மோசடியாக- இந்தக் கோவிலில்- எந்த செல்லத்தக்க நியமன உத்தரவும் இன்றி மோசடியாக செயல் பட்டு வருகின்றார் என்று காவல்துறையில் புகார்… https://t.co/exbhRonQRs
— trramesh (@trramesh) February 9, 2025
HR&CE’s Track Record Under Scrutiny
The HR&CE department, which administers over 40,000 temples in Tamil Nadu, has often faced criticism for its alleged mismanagement, interference in Agamic traditions, and exploitation of temple revenues. Activists and devotees have long accused HR&CE of:
- Leasing temple properties to non-Hindus at nominal rents while failing to recover outstanding dues running into crores.
- Neglecting temple maintenance and failing to use funds for renovation and repairs.
- Denying priests fair wages while spending temple income on luxury vehicles and administrative expenses.
- Imposing unnecessary fees on devotees for darshan, abhishekam, and other religious services, making temple visits costly for common Hindus.
- Allowing non-believers and other religious groups to set up establishments near temple premises, leading to encroachments.
Many Hindu groups see these policies as part of a larger effort to weaken Hindu temple traditions and diminish their cultural significance. The Madras High Court had previously stayed HR&CE’s decision to use temple funds for commercial constructions, further highlighting concerns over the department’s management.
Recent HR&CE Actions Spark Wider Concern
The EO’s latest attempt to control temple priests’ earnings is not an isolated incident. In October 2024, the HR&CE department issued a similar directive at the Kuzhandai Velappar Temple in Kodaikanal, mandating that all contributions from devotees be deposited in the temple’s bank account. To enforce this, the department installed CCTV cameras and appointed three officials to monitor the priests, further aggravating concerns about overreach.
Critics argue that such measures are designed to frustrate devotees and drive them away from temples, pushing them towards other religious institutions where no such restrictions exist. They point out the double standards, as similar financial restrictions are never imposed on churches or mosques, which continue to operate without government interference.
Growing Movement to Free Temples from Government Control
The withdrawal of the Madurai temple circular marks another milestone in the growing “Free Hindu Temples” movement, which has gained momentum across India. Devotees and activists have been vocal about the need to liberate Hindu temples from state control, ensuring that their management is restored to traditional temple trusts run by pious Hindus.
#BREAKING || காணிக்கை உண்டியலில் போடும் சுற்றறிக்கை வாபஸ்
கோயிலில் அர்ச்சகர் தட்டில் விழும் காணிக்கையை உண்டியலில் போடும் உத்தரவு வாபஸ்
மதுரையில் பாலதண்டாயுதபாணி சுவாமி கோயிலில் கடந்த 7ம் தேதி செயல் அலுவலர் பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவு திரும்பப்பெறப்பட்டது
கடும் எதிர்ப்பு எழுந்த நிலையில்… pic.twitter.com/suRh6dUZW4
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) February 10, 2025
The issue has been further amplified by recent incidents at Tiruparangundram Murugan Temple, where massive Hindu gatherings opposed attempts to Islamize the temple premises. Reports indicate that Muslim groups falsely claimed the sacred Murugan Hills as part of the Waqf Board, renaming it as Sikkandar Hill and attempting to alter the temple’s identity. This, along with HR&CE’s latest directives, has fueled concerns about the Dravidian government’s policies towards Hindu temples.
