Hindu Munani and other Hindu organisations ran a sustained campaign and protests to successfully evict brazen encroachment in the famous Kanchipuram Panamudeeswarar Temple Mandapam, which is under the control of Tamil Nadu government controlled, HR&CE ( Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments) department.

The ancient Panamundeeswarar Temple is well known for legend that snakes come to worship at the temple.

The ancient marble Mandapam (temple hall) is located adjoining the main temple tower. The HR&CE department which is supposed to maintain the temple was wittingly or unwittingly allowing brazen construction activity in the Mandapam. An illegal building was being constructed over the Mandapam by some encroachers with the HR&CE turning a blind eye to it. It is said that the Treasury Department officials took bribe running into several lakh rupees from the encroachers to allow illegal occupation. The corrupt officials and the encroachers felt that they would get away with the blatant invasion into temple property as the temple is closed to worshippers due to strict lockdown due to Covid pandemic.

However, Hindu Munani and other Hindu organisations were vigilant and noticed the encroachments. After a long and consistent battle including filing formal complaints to the HR&CE and staging protests they succeeded in recovering the temple Mandapam from the encroachers and the illegal construction was demolished by the authorities using a JCB machine. A sign board was also placed in front of the temple Mandapam stating that the said property belonged to Panamudeeswarar Temple by the HR&CE.

Last year, a complaint was lodged with the Treasury Department alleging an illegal encroachment of land worth 1.75 crores owned by the same temple. An investigation by the authorities on the complaint revealed illegal occupation of temple land of 6976 square feet behind the power substation in Orikai.

Hindu organisations, Temple devotees and activists want the HR&CE to be vigilant and prevent encroachment of temple property by its own initiative rather than slowly act after receiving complaints from devotees and activists.

It is the considered view of this author that temple management across India should be handed over to the devotees according to the local Sampradaya. Ancient temples under government control are in complete ruin, mismanaged and their properties misappropriated due to rampant corruption and scant respect to temple traditions by the government officials.

News input and image source: Kathir News

DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text.