COIMBATORE: Devotees across Tamil Nadu are reeling from yet another incident of Hindu temple murti desecration, the latest occurring at the Black Mariamman Temple in the Chinnampalayam area of Coimbatore. This act of vandalism has not only deeply disturbed the local community but also intensified growing concerns over the security of religious sites and what some are calling a disturbing pattern of such incidents across the state.
The recent event, reported on June 18, 2025, unfolded at the Black Mariamman Temple, perched on a hillock near Avinashi Road in Senniyampalayam. According to Hindu Munnani sources and local residents, their morning began with dismay and shock. The temple priest, upon arriving to open the premises, discovered a scene of desecration: several murtis, including those of Bhagwan Ganesha, Rahu, Ketu, and Mooshik (Bhagwan Ganesha’s vehicle, the mouse), had been wantonly broken. The news quickly spread, drawing a large crowd of local residents to the temple, leading to palpable tension in the area.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Thangaraman and Sulur Police Inspector Lenin swiftly arrived at the scene to launch an inquiry. As part of their investigation, police are reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area in an effort to identify the perpetrators. Authorities have assured the public that those responsible will be identified and brought to justice, emphasizing the gravity with which they are treating the incident.
Condemnation of the vandalism was immediate and strong. Former Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai took to social media platform X to express his outrage. He stated that “miscreants and anti-national elements” had entered the “well-known Plague Mariamman temple at Chinniampalayam and broken the centuries-old murtis.” Annamalai highlighted the long-standing devotion of the local people to these murtis, stressing that they had been worshipped “since ages.” He further alleged that the motive behind the desecration was “to foment communal tension in the locality.” He urged the police to “probe the case thoroughly and arrest the culprits who were behind it,” also calling for investigations into “where [who] were behind such heinous crime and take stern action against them.”
https://twitter.com/annamalai_k/status/1935279823263515040)
This latest incident in Coimbatore is not an isolated one, but rather part of a troubling series of events that have plagued Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu recently. Just weeks prior, on May 26, 2025, more than ten murtis were severely damaged at the Udhiracharrypuram Pazhaniayapuram Ezhuperu Swamy Temple (Seven Person Swamy Temple) in Thirumangalam, Madurai district.
In response to that incident, Hindu Munnani issued a strong statement, urging the Tamil Nadu police to take swift action and arrest the “actual persons” behind the vandalism. Their statement explicitly dismissed common excuses often given in such cases, asserting, “we do not want no more excuses like ‘that he is mentally unwell, in a drunken state’.” The temple, which is maintained by family clans, houses over 20 murtis, including those of Ayyarsamy, Periya Karuppa Swamy, Sannasi, Mayandi, Rakkachi Amman, Chinnasamy, and Aandisamy. On May 26, antisocial elements reportedly broke open the temple doors and extensively damaged these statues. Eyewitness accounts and the extent of the damage revealed that the heads, torsos, hands, and feet of some murtis were completely broken, with a specific focus on damaging the right hands of the deities. In addition to the damage, miscreants also stole a bronze bell from the temple. Devotees promptly lodged a complaint with the Thirumangalam police, who subsequently seized CCTV recordings from the temple and its vicinity as part of their investigation.
https://twitter.com/hindumunnani_tn/status/1926984981579989426)
Hindu Munnani functionaries assert that these are not new phenomena in Tamil Nadu. They claim there have been “numerous incidents even in famous temples like Avinashi near Coimbatore, Srivachur Madurai Kali Amman, and other places.” A recurring point of contention for them is the police’s frequent explanation that such acts are committed by “mentally deranged person/s or in an inebriated state,” often leading to the swift closure of cases.
“It is a million-dollar question how a person with such state can identify Hindu temples and murtis?” a Hindu Munnani functionary questioned, highlighting a key concern. “No other places of worship were damaged. There is a pattern in this.” This perceived pattern of targeting specifically Hindu places of worship fuels suspicion among devotees and Hindu organizations.
Adding to the community’s distress, Hindu Munnani also points to the state government’s actions, noting that “the government on its part has razed down over 200 temples saying built on government lands and water bodies.” This policy, while ostensibly aimed at clearing encroachments, is viewed critically by some, who retort, “If that’s the case, how much government offices were built on lands belonging to Temples?” This question underscores a sentiment of perceived selective action and a feeling of neglect towards Hindu religious structures.
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