Please refer to my early posts on blatant idol thefts going on in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu being managed by the HR & CE. According to the latest media reports six officials, including the former HR&CE Joint Commissioner of Tiruchendur Sri Subramaniya Swamy temple, have been named in a case related to the alleged replacement of a stone peacock idol at the temple. The idols are roughly 200 years old. The irksome fact is the idol was damaged in the neck and was replaced quickly; all this was done without informing senior officials.
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| Tiruchendur murugan temple, TN cottage9.com |
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| The tampered peacock stone idol thehindu.com |
Devotees and others strongly believe that those officials allegedly took away peacock idol in 2017 in order to sell it for a fat price to idol exports. In the place of the original idol, to avoid suspicion, they had another stone peacock idol replaced. Though this idol theft took place two years ago, people are glad that a criminal case is registered on a complaint filed by Idol Wing Inspector Thennarasan with the Temple police, Tiruchendur. In front of the garbhagriha / sanctum two peacock idols and a Nandi /bull) are located. The complaint is about the peacock idol on the left allegedly taken away by unknown people (outsiders) in collusion with the temple employees on the night of August 6, 2017.
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| Tiruchendur murugan temple, thehindu.com |
To avoid getting caught, they tampered with the CCTV camera network fixed inside the temple. When the foul activity was going on, it was off the CCTV camera. On August 19, it is believed that a replica of the stolen stone peacock was reset secretly in such a way it never caused any suspicion among other honest officials and regular visitors to the temple. For unknown reasons, some officials on duty, it is alleged, did not report the incident to senior officials as the regulation requires. However, former HR& CE Joint Commissioner had filed a report to the Idol Wing based on the incident.The High Court asked the famous idol wing sleuth A.G. Ponn Manickavel to look into the theft, accordingly he and his team found out that it was dereliction of duty on the part of some officials, including higher-ups not to have reported this serious matter to the authorities concerned. They termed it as ‘Intentional omission’. To avoid further embarrassment to the HR & CE department which already got a bad rap, the department recently fired a number of officials who were on duty when the incident took place.
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| Tiruchendur murugan temple, TN lord Murugan. freeservers.com |
This idol theft at Tiruchendur Subramanya Swamy temple and countless Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu clearly shows the callous attitude of the senior HR & CE officials in the safety of valuable idols and laxity on their part. Further, it brings to light to what extant some employees have become greedy and money-minded by way of stealing revered temple idols for personal gains. Devotees are of the opinion that the culprits who steal idols of Hindu deities must be non-believers in Hinduism, lacking integrity and devotion to duty. It is strange how such people are chosen for responsible jobs in places of worship. Employing such disgusting people - non-believers of gods in the temple is like having wolves as guards in a cattle ranch!!
In September, 2024 The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) of Tamil Nadu booked the former Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, at the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Thirukovil, Tiruchendur Reason: He was taking a bribe from a visually impaired headmaster for clearing a file pertaining to pay anomalies.
Tit-bits:
Thiruchendur Murugan Temple, (Tuticorin district Tamil Nadu), an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to lord Murugan (God Karthikeya) is a pretty old temple. It is 60 km south-east of Tirunelveli, 40 km from Tuticorin and 75 km north-east of Kanyakumari. Unlike other Subramanya temples, this one is on the shores of Bay of Bengal and its historical name is Jayanthipuram. One of the six famous six abodes (Arupadaiveedu) of God Subramanya, it is the fourth Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu to get ISO certification.
Tiruchendur Murugan Temple is famous for the centuries-old annual temple festival called Soorasamharam, a reenactment of the victory over Soorapadman, a demon by God Karthikeya (Murugan). The demon caused untold miseries to the people and the sages. God Karthikeya, with special divine power, at last killed the demon in order to save the innocent people from his treachery. Kanda Shasti, a devotional song in praise of Lord Muruga, is recited at the temple. Male devotees are not allowed to wear upper garments - shirt, banian, etc. Lungies are not allowed. Women are expected to wear traditional dress; no tight gowns or pants are allowed. As for the puja, Kerala-style temple rites are being followed here and, it is said, that the main priest here is from the Kerala Nambudiri Brahmin family.
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| Thiruchendur Murugan Temple shtadevata.com |
Tiruchendur Murugan Temple is famous for the centuries-old annual temple festival called Soorasamharam, a reenactment of the victory over Soorapadman, a demon by God Karthikeya (Murugan). The demon caused untold miseries to the people and the sages. God Karthikeya, with special divine power, at last killed the demon in order to save the innocent people from his treachery. Kanda Shasti, a devotional song in praise of Lord Muruga, is recited at the temple. Male devotees are not allowed to wear upper garments - shirt, banian, etc. Lungies are not allowed. Women are expected to wear traditional dress; no tight gowns or pants are allowed. As for the puja, Kerala-style temple rites are being followed here and, it is said, that the main priest here is from the Kerala Nambudiri Brahmin family.
On July 8, 2025 TN government successfully conducted the kumbabishekam (consecration) of the Tiruchendur Murugan Temple after along span of 16 years. Reposted with modification from: https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-theft-of-stone-peacock-idol-of.html(defunct)
