Tamil Nadu is one of the most religious states in Bharat and remains the land of temples. The state has the largest number of temples, estimated to be more than four lakhs, with many hundreds of them having several centuries of history. The temples have remained focal points of Tamil sanskriti and society since the earliest periods.
It was in the Tamil lands that the Bhakti movement was born during the sixth century, before subsequently spreading to other parts of Bharat. Tamil, considered to be one of the oldest languages in the world, is intimately connected with Bhakti and temples.
The Anti-Hindu Politics of TN
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is an offshoot of Dravidar Kazhagam formed by EVR Periyar. He was the one who broke the idols of Bhagwan Vinayakar and burnt the portraits of Bhagwan Ram in the 1950s and even post that. After getting into power, the Karunanidhi Government installed the statues of EVR in front of temples with slogans such as ‘one who believes in God is a fool’ written on them. This was to hurt the Hindu sentiments.Since MK Stalin assumed power in 2021, the anti-Hindu activities have gained momentum with the support of Government. While they denigrate the Hindu faith and its practices all the time, they make it a point to appease the Abrahamic religions. Stalin himself ridiculed the Hindu rituals at an Islamic event. While speaking in the ‘Eradicate Sanatan Conclave’ in 2023, his son and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi equated Sanatana Dharma with ‘dengue’, ‘malaria’, ‘mosquito’ and ‘corona’, asserting it “should not just be opposed, but eradicated”.
Subsequently a senior leader of DMK and MP, A Raja, noted that the above words used by Udhayanidhi were mild, further stating that Hindu Dharma should be compared to diseases that carry a social stigma, like HIV and leprosy. Raja is a serial offender who has been abusing the Hindu faith without any impunity. In a Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) meeting, he said that all Shudras are children of prostitutes and they will remain so as long as they remain in Hinduism. Recently, he asked his party cadres to not use Hindu symbols like tilak. There are many others like him who constantly abuse Hindu Dharma.
The Temple Purview
Around 45000 temples come under the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Board of the State Government. But the condition of these temples has become deplorable over the years. During the 1980s, there was more than 5.25 lakh acres of temple land under the Government. Later, it said that there were only around 4.75 lakh acres. Besides, for about 1.25 lakh acres, the Government does not have any ownership documents.TR Ramesh of the Temple Worshippers Sangam estimates that even now, the temples could earn around Rs 6000 crore annually, if the required steps are taken. But right now, the earnings are only Rs 150 crore. So the Government uses the temple funds collected through public donations and fees for administrative purposes, disregarding the Court orders. DMK Government is building a college in Kolathur, which is Stalin’s assembly constituency, using the funds of Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, in spite of the Court not giving the final approval. Though there is a High Court prohibiting the Government from using the surplus funds of the temples for purposes other than maintaining the dilapidated temples and propagating Hindu dharma, the Government is determined to use them for other purposes. Recently, Ramesh has obtained a stay against the Government building colleges and commercial buildings through the temple funds.
Deliberate Denigration of Dharma
Lord Murugan has always been closely identified with the Tamil language and sanskriti. The lives of Tamilians are so much attached to Lord Murugan that most people consider Him as the Tamil God. There are six popular hill abodes of Bhagwan Murugan. Every year, lakhs of devotees from across the state go on pilgrimages walking several kilometers carrying the burden of Kavadi. It is believed that carrying the Kavadi lessens the burdens in their lives. Besides, there are several thousands who go to these temples every month.
Hence, the anti-Hindu ecosystem has been trying to disconnect Tamils from Lord Murugan. During 2020, one person belonging to this group called Karuppar Kootam (Group of Blacks) posted YouTube videos denigrating Hindu Gods and made obscene comments on Kanda Sashti Kavasam, the highly popular song praising Subramaniya Swami of Tiruchendur. Annually, lakhs of Tamilians undertake fasting for six days, during which they sing these 270 lines written by Baladevaraya Swamigal during the 19th century. When the Hindus were protesting against him and calling for his arrest, DMK kept quiet. Only when they realised about the backlash did they retract. All the evidence showed that the culprit was connected to the DMK. The hill abodes of Lord Murugan are being managed by the State through Special Officers without the required orders. Ramesh says that this process has been continuing for six decades against the provisions of the Constitution. Last Year, fearing the Hindu reaction to the anti-Hindu approach of the Government, the DMK organised a two day ‘Muthamizh Murugan International Conference’ in Palani, one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan. For the first time, the Government was forced to undertake this exercise. But even then the CM did not participate and only delivered an online address. Now even after almost one year, the administration is refusing to give the accounts for the conference as demanded by the Hindus. The reason could be the diversion of temple funds.
Humongous Hindu Unity
Recently on June 22, Hindu Munnani (Hindu Front), the Sangh-affiliated organisation fighting for the rights of Hindus in Tamil Nadu organised a ‘Murugan Bakthargal Maanaadu’ (Murugan Devotees’ Conference) in Madurai. The organisers had made special arrangements near the venue for the devotees to pray to Lord Murugan in six different forms as He appears in the hill abodes for five days before the conference. Kaadeswara Subramaniam, the state President of Hindu Munnani informed that around four lakh persons offered prayers during those days before the conference, and on the day of the conference, there was a sea of humanity. The organisers said that the vehicles were lined in a queue of ten kilometers. Several hundreds of them could not reach the venue. Subramaniam noted that the total number of people who arrived in Madurai would be around six lakhs, though only around 80 per cent of them could enter the venue. The Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Pawan Kalyan, who was the Chief Guest, made an emotional speech in Tamil highlighting the discrimination faced by Hindus in the name of secularism. He appealed to all the Tamilians to come together to save the Hindu Dharma in the state.
The conference was a huge success with a massive participation of people from different sections of society cutting across the state. The event faced a lot of hurdles imposed by DMK till the last minute. Finally, it took place after receiving the orders from the Court with conditions. Such a huge crowd was managed only by the karyakartas, with no single policemen inside the venue. The programme went well without any problem in spite of the frequent drizzles. Hindu Munnani cadre worked very hard with the support of the dedicated Swayamsevaks of the Sangh parivar. Finally, the Tamilians have realised the need to join together to assert for their rights long denied by the anti-Hindu ecosystem nurtured by DMK and its allies over the years. The State has never witnessed such a high number of participants voluntarily taking part in an event like this. It was a historic one for Tamil Nadu and certainly a turning point in the history of the state after independence.
This conference has proved to be highly relevant in the present circumstances. Its impact is expected to be huge at the social and political levels.
