Another temple has been desecrated and murtis vandalised in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu. 2 days after the clay murtis of Periyasamy temple were demolished, the stone murtis of Periya Andavar temple in the same village were found in a vandalised state.
On the day of Mahalaya Amavasya, Hindus who had gone to Periyasamy temple, a sub temple of Siruvachur Madura Kaliamman temple in Perambalur, were shocked to see the clay murtis beheaded and their hands chopped off. Within 2 days of this incident, on October 7 l, stone murtis of Periya Andavar temple in Siruvachur also were found in a broken state.
The temple is said to have been renovated only a few days ago. Hindus of the village had pooled in Rs.10 lakh to install new stone murtis. Both temples were vandalised by the same person and he was caught in the act by a pujari of another temple when he tried to vandalise it too. The yantras put under the murtis when they were installed were also missing.
Natarajan alias Nathan, the perpetrator, was arrested by police on October 8. The Hindu reported that he had vandalised 14 clay idols at Periyasamy Temple and 13 stone idols in Periyandavar Temple. Police investigation revealed that he had stolen the yantras after vandalising three murtis at Sri Pathanjaleeswarar Temple in Cuddalore district.
Tamil Nadu BJP’s legal wing secretary, Aswathaman and others had visited the village and the affected temples. Having listened to the plight of Hindus for whom these deities are Kula Devatas, they started a funding campaign to renovate the temple again. Fellow Hindus responded enthusiastically by donating Rs.18 lakh.
Allegedly Christian missionaries have been harassing Hindus in the region. Siruvachur Madura Kaliamman is the Kula Devi of Kanchi Shankaracharya. Only non-Brahmin hereditary pujaris have the right to do priestly duties in the temple and the deity is Kula Devi to lakhs of Hindus across the state. Both the vandalised temples are in the control of TNHRCE.
Perambalur region is heavily influenced by the propaganda of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, a political party that claims to work for “dalit cause”. The party and its chief Thirumavalavan have been spreading misinformation that Tamils weren’t originally Hindus but Buddhists similar to Bhim Army propaganda. Some Buddha statues were discovered in a few villages of Perambalur district. Even though it is claimed that they belong to the 11th century, the historicity of these statues is not clear.
These 6ft statues of Buddha in a sitting posture lie in open spaces worshipped by Hindus of the villages. They apply sandal paste, Kumkum, etc, garland the statues and offer delicacies on special occasions. However VCK members and those who are influenced by them do not follow this culture and celebrate Buddha Purnima by lighting candles. Hindus have to face such anti-Hindu elements and Muslims who oppose temple festivals and set fire to temple chariots. Only a few days ago a Muslim man had set fire to the temple chariots of a village in Perambalur.
