Chennai: A political and religious controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after Hindu Munnani accused cadres of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of violating temple traditions by allegedly carrying portraits of party founder and actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay into the sanctum sanctorum of several temples during celebrations marking his birthday on June 22. The organisation has termed the incidents an affront to Agama rules and temple customs, while also questioning what it describes as the selective application of religious norms in the state. Videos circulating on social media have fuelled the debate, prompting renewed discussions on political symbolism in places of worship and the sanctity of Hindu temples.
In a statement, Hindu Munnani State President Kadeswara Subramaniam alleged that TVK functionaries entered the sanctum sanctorum (Garbha Griha) of multiple temples and compelled priests to place portraits of Vijay at the feet of the presiding deity before performing rituals.
According to him, one such incident took place at the Palani Dhandayuthapani Temple, where TVK cadres, allegedly led by district secretary Karthik Raja, carried a framed portrait of Vijay into the temple premises and placed it on the temple’s golden chariot.
Hindu Munnani argued that temple tradition permits only the deity to occupy the temple chariot during religious processions and that devotees present at the temple objected to the act.
The organisation further alleged that at the Palappatarai Mariamman Temple, which falls under the control of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, TVK cadres entered the sanctum sanctorum and pressured the priest into placing Vijay’s portrait alongside the deity before conducting special pujas.
According to Hindu Munnani, devotees objected to the act and videos of the alleged incident subsequently went viral on social media.
Subramaniam also alleged that TVK cadres led by district secretary Suresh conducted similar ceremonies at Vinayagar and Amman temples in Krishnagiri district, where portraits of Vijay were reportedly placed inside temple premises and special pujas and aarthi performed.
He claimed such actions had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu devotees and questioned why similar ceremonies were not organised inside mosques or churches.
The Hindu Munnani leader urged Vijay to publicly advise his party workers against repeating such acts in future.
In a separate controversy, Madurai Central MLA V.M.S. Mustafa attracted attention after videos circulated on social media purportedly showing him entering the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple while wearing a skull cap.
The visit triggered criticism from several social media users, who questioned whether it complied with existing temple customs.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of earlier political remarks by DMK leaders regarding Sanatana Dharma, adding further political context to the debate.
Meanwhile, Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner Deshmukh issued an advisory ahead of the annual Aani Festival stating that devotees attending the celebrations should not display overt religious identities during the event and warned that violations could invite legal action.
The announcement has itself generated debate on social media, with some users questioning whether similar advisories are issued during festivals of other religious communities.
Another aspect of the birthday celebrations that attracted attention was a procession in Walajabad, where hundreds of women dressed in TVK colours carried traditional milk pots (paal kudam), a ritual generally associated with vows undertaken by Hindu devotees before offering them at temples.
Videos of the procession were widely circulated online.
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Another post by the account “Dharmic Indians” claimed that nearly 2,500 women participated in the event while carrying milk pots behind a horse-drawn chariot displaying Vijay’s portrait.
Several users criticised what they described as the blending of political celebrations with religious symbolism.
Separately, another undated video circulated online purportedly showing a group of youths dancing to a Christian devotional song inside or near a Hindu temple premises. The authenticity, date and exact location of the video could not be independently verified.
The video has been widely shared here:
The incidents have sparked a wider conversation in Tamil Nadu over the increasing use of religious symbols and temple rituals during political celebrations. While critics argue that temples should remain insulated from political activity and that established Agama traditions must be respected, supporters of the celebrations have not officially responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
Neither TVK nor Vijay has publicly commented on the specific allegations regarding the temple incidents. Similarly, authorities have not announced any official inquiry into the viral videos so far.
