Of Secular Carvings, Sacred Spaces and Agama Violations

Dear friends, I am not sure how many of you will be shocked and outraged by what I am about to share with all of you. I was more than shocked and outraged, I was aghast and furious; and determined to do something about this. But first, a sad story of government invasion of sacred spaces (aka “management” of temples by government controlled “Trusts”), “secular” carvings, Agama violations and outrageous “renovations”. As some of you may know, I am very time-constrained at present so this post is more in the nature of  rough note based on a few bullet points. It does manage to convey all the relevant points though. Read on:

The Kalamangalam temples in Erode Taluk

  • Kalamangalam is located in Southern bank of Cauvery river 15 km from Erode to Karur road. It is one of the traditional “Kaani” Village in Poondurai country out of it 32 Kaanis, since Chera Maharaja times. It comprises 18 villages
  • Kulavilakkamman temple (form of Badrakaliamman) is a “Kaani” temple for 18 villages. The village also contains Bhuloganayaki Sametha Mathyapureeswarar temple and Bhudevi Neeladevi Sametha KalyanaVaradharajar temple.
  • These temples are managed traditionally by Kanna Gothra Konga Vellalar community (see additional information on the Kongu Vellalar community here; also here)
  • The Kulavilakkamman temple is now under the management of HR&CE appointed trustees from Konga Vellalar community, since 1960s.

Apparently, the “commercialization” of the temple and the entry of “politics” into this sacred space started in 2007 when a massive fund-raising drive was launched (with publicity) for the purpose of renovation and consecration of the temple. I do not know exactly how much money was collected but it was enough to do a number of things in the name of “temple renovation”. These included:

  • Removal of statues of horses, cows and elephants on the ground that they were not in good condition (but photographs suggest otherwise)
  • Removal of the Nagar statues in the north west corner
  • Steel roofs around the temple premises that hid the view of the Gopura Kalasam (a major violation of the Agama Shastra; see this and this; also this for more on Agama Shastra)
  • Marble flooring that was slippery and another Agama violation

Around the same time apparently, a proposal was mooted to rent out the temple for marriage purposes and charge money for it. You can see some photos of the “work” here.

But worse was to come…

Sometime during the last few years, the eastern doors of the temple were replaced(?) with ones that had carved faces of – among others – EVR (who apparently once garlanded SriRam with a garland of shoes), Mother Teresa, Annadurai and Abdul Kalam (see here). The walls were further defaced by engraving the names of trustees on them.

Worse, the roof angles made for the “godown-like” structures initially carried the DMK  symbol, Rising Sun which were eventually removed after opposition from the devotees (pl see pics at the link above & if you wish to see more, pl leave a comment below).

The final aggravating act for the devotees of the Kulavilakkamman temple was the consecration of the temple in February 2011 in violation of the established rituals and Shastras. Apparently, this was done in spite of the entreaties of the traditional Sivacharya.

The temple is a “living” example of Chola architecture and the Vijayanagara style – besides being a few centuries old – and on the basis of being a protected monument, it should not have been violated in this manner. Sadly, people who protested have apparently been threatened with false cases; unsurprisingly, no one is prepared to come out publicly on this. The story would have remain buried among the locals were it not for the effort of some keen Bhaktas who were aghast with these developments and decided to share it with the wider world.

Please share this tale of egregious and outrageous behaviour among your friends and family – especially those from Tamil Nadu. Needless to add, please keep an eye out for any such work or activities in any sacred places you visit. If you spot something like this, pl send me details and I will be happy to share it on the blog. As for this particular matter, a legal case is now being prepared, complaints have been filed and hopefully we will see a resolution in due course.  Thanks to Radha-ji for alerting us to this and sharing with the wider community. I have additional photographs and links to some videos of these violations in case anyone is interested.

Related Post: On Ancient Temple, Mosques, Highways and Airports

Also read: Of Hindu Temples, Forms of Gods and Mother Teresa

P.S. Poet Kalamegham of 14th century (who sung like dark clouds lashing rains) lived in this Eswar temple and hence the town was renamed after him as Kalamangalam from Mathyapuri. This village is in centre (madhya) of the river Cauvery’s length & breadth, hence the earlier name.

B Shantanu

Political Activist, Blogger, Advisor to start-ups, Seed investor. One time VC and ex-Diplomat. Failed mushroom farmer; ex Radio Jockey. Currently involved in Reclaiming India - One Step at a Time.

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15 Responses

  1. Nandita says:

    Dear Sir, this is terrible. I will be quoting your blog entry in other fora for people to be aware of this desecration of Hindu temples by TN govt. Regards.

  2. Shrivathsa says:

    thanks for the info. i will try to give this as much publicity as possible. I condemn the violations in the strongest possible terms.

  3. mgd says:

    I think one of the local devotees can file a police/magistrate complaint against the officials responsible for this desecration on the grounds that it hurts religious sentiments. HK readers including myself can contribute small amounts to render financial assistance to the complainant.

  4. Soumya P R says:

    This is ridiculous.India is famous for its art architecture and specially temples.People from different parts of the world visit them.I think POLITICIANS think as if they are renovating their bedrooms by paying lacs to some interior decorator.No wonder in few days they will come and renovate our houses too.This had to be stopped or else one day we will see India losing it’s identity.

  5. Shantanu

    This is beyond deplorable. Your observation about this being related to a government controlled trust should be examined further. I firmly believe that there is no role for the government in such managing temples or any other religious place. These should be entirely privatised ie returned to the people.

    All kinds of busybodies with zero sense of history, culture, or religion are empowered through such government control to dabble with, and to ultimately destroy, the heritage of India. Religions are NOT an “equal opportunity” place.

    s

  6. KSV SUBRAMANIAN says:

    Hindu temples forcibly nationalised by the so called SECULAR GOVERNMENTS for the purpose of appointing their cronies in lucrative posts the way they post their cronies in Government Corporations. In turn these cronies undertake all such anti-social or anti-temple and anti-hindu activities to fill the coffers of their masters. They are not managing the temples but their intention is to loot the offerings of the devotees.

    But this is the height of secularisation (or is vandalising) of Hindu temples. I am shocked to learn the facts stated above viz. engravings of persons who have nothing to do with Hindu religion or rather some of them are quite anti-hindu. This is just insulting the hindus as a community by the so called SECULAR TERRORISTS. Yes, they are terrorising the hindu community by their actions like this.

  7. Amit says:

    All Hindus should unite and take control of temples , how the hell in Secularism Govt can takeover Temples, do France , US takeover churches / nope , and these Mindless Judges of Supreme court and High court everytime give a go ahead to Govt for such takeover , it is all because of SOB Nehru , who inserted article 30 B in constitution which protects only Minority institutions from takeover ,
    Atleast BJP could do something to change this scenario when they were in power , but Alas they don’t have either intellect or will to understand and change these Sickular designs of Congress

  8. Amit says:

    We have lost , the Shaiva math of Kaarnataka are inviting the Anti Hindu , Designer of Communal violence bill , Sonia Gandhi to there 100 year celebration ,
    it is all because of leaders like Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramkrishna , who have made Hindus too much passive by teaching this “Sarva Dharma Sambhava ” , Vivekananda or Ramkrishna might have not wanted to make Hindus weak , but practically they r doing same thing today , and when that is combined with fraudulent Sickular politics of Nehru Company and leftist the result can only be like this ,
    and look at the irony while teaching for 100 years that Ramkrishna is an Avatara of Ram, Krishna , and having 99% Hindu followers Ramkrishna mission went to SC to get “Minority ” status , to prevent takeover from Bengal Govt, if there had been any sense of responsibility towards society in these “Modern Monks” they should have fought tooth and Nail the Partial Constitution which permits takeover of only Hindu institutions .

  9. Amit says:

    One more thing , the very idea of carving of other Religions in a temple is developed in Ramkrishna Mission , it was Ramkrishna Mission Nagpur that made a “Grand Temple ” in 2004 with carvings of symbols of All religion , after that every big temple made by this Mission has such carvings , but who visits them ? obviously only Hindus , Muslims and Christians r not going to bow to SriRamkrsihna ,no matter how much u r ready to sacrifice ,

  10. CC says:

    Hey Bhagwan. I’m so horrified and aghast. This has got to be the most criminal act against docile and meek Hindus who take every insult thrown at them. I feel so powerless as a human being.

  11. CC says:

    Where is heck is that thug Pramod Muthalik? What is his Sri ram sene doing? He seems so concerned about young girls drinking at pubs but this atrocity doesn’t bother him? Where’s ABVP hiding now?

  12. kaushal says:

    @CC
    “Where is heck is that thug Pramod Muthalik? What is his Sri ram sene doing? He seems so concerned about young girls drinking at pubs but this atrocity doesn’t bother him? Where’s ABVP hiding now?”

    Why don’t you publish your named and your real identity?

    I would like to ask:
    Why don’t you go and protest, if you so horrified and aghast.
    being a Hindu, you too have some duty towards your religion.

    Ram Sene or ABVP have not taken contract for the whole Hindu society to fight at all the fronts while people like you sit comfortably and just type.

    First of all, your facts regarding Ram Sene itself is wrong. Visit some blogs beyond NDTV or CNNIBN and try to get your facts right.
    To the very least, visit Manglore and ask the girls there what they think about Ram Sene and what happened on that day?

    BTW, if you have not heard the term “Love Jihad”, no point reading beyond this.
    Ram Sene has been working at the ground level to prevent Hindu girls falling prey to Muslims traps.
    Which the people like you in cities would support as freedom just because Amir and Shahrukh have married Hindu girls.

    The organization who is working for the society, at least expects that urban educated middle class Hindus to be aware of the truth.

    -Kaushal

  13. Chandrasekhar Hoskote says:

    This has happened in the past and sadly, is happening now. Come on guys!!! Wake up and defend the most evolved and tolerant religion from these short sighted politicians. Mother India expects us to defend her from these internal jokers and external demons!!

  14. B Shantanu says:

    Somewhat related: Sad and shocking. HR&CE razes Vijayanagar era temple by Gomathi Chetty, 20 Jun 2013:
    In an act of inexcusable sacrilege, the beautiful thirteenth century Adinarayana Perumal Temple, Pazhaverkadu (Pulicat), was bulldozed and destroyed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department (HR&CE), on June 13, 2013. The ruination took place in the name of temple renovation, leaving devotees shattered, and reduced to tears. Since there was no advance information regarding the proposed razing of the temple, no preventive steps were possible in time.

    Adinarayana Perumal Temple, Pazhaverkadu, is one of the rarest architectures in south India. It is a marvel of laterite blocks, and is famous for its Ramayana miniature sculptures. The vimana (tower) was made using limestone. Now it is completely demolished….

  1. June 1, 2012

    […] Teresa, Annadurai and Abdul Kalam [take a look at the accompanying photographs in the blog]. Of Secular Carvings, Sacred Spaces and Agama Violations Dear friends, I am not sure how many of you will be shocked and outraged by what I am about […]