A controversy has erupted over the painting of a cross and a mosque on the compound wall of the historic Arkeshwara Swamy Temple at Hale Edathore village in K.R. Nagar taluk of Mysuru district, amid the Dasara festivities. As per the Bengaluru Live reports, the images, reportedly painted in red and green, respectively, triggered objections from Hindu organizations and prompted demands for accountability. The incident has raised questions about who authorized the paintings at the premises of a historic Hindu temple and whether the work was carried out with the necessary administrative approval. Following the controversy, a complaint was reportedly filed against temple in-charge Aarati and artist Vinay, and an FIR was registered at the K.R. Nagar police station.
The controversy intensified after BJP leader and former Mysuru MP Pratap Simha publicly objected to the paintings and demanded their immediate removal. Questioning why the symbols had been painted on the temple wall during renovation work, Simha challenged those responsible to remove them without delay. He also alleged that the responsibility lay with those within the Hindu community who had permitted or facilitated the work. His remarks added a political dimension to the dispute, with the central issue remaining the circumstances under which the religious symbols were introduced at the temple.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka also targeted the Congress government, questioning Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge over the incident. Ashoka demanded to know who had authorised the paintings and whether any official order had been issued. He argued that decisions affecting Hindu religious institutions and sacred spaces required transparency, accountability and sensitivity towards devotees. Drawing a comparison, he questioned whether authorities would permit the painting of a trishul or Om symbol inside a mosque or church, and challenged the government to explain the rationale behind the work at the Arkeshwara Temple.
According to reports, temple in-charge Aarati claimed that a senior official had instructed that the symbols be retained in the name of communal harmony. However, the images were subsequently painted over and removed following the intervention of K.R. Nagar Tahsildar Surendra Murthy. In a statement issued on October 17, Mysuru district police said the tahsildar had visited the site after learning of the incident and taken steps to have the images removed. The police statement did not identify who had originally ordered the paintings. The reported claim regarding instructions from a senior official therefore remains a key issue requiring clarification from the authorities.
The incident has placed the administration under pressure to establish who commissioned the paintings, who approved them, and whether the prescribed procedures for renovation work at the historic temple were followed. Authorities must provide a clear account of the decisions taken, examine the allegations fairly, and ensure that responsibility is established on the basis of evidence. The removal of the images may have addressed the immediate dispute, but it does not resolve the questions surrounding their appearance in the first place.
Who has the audacity to paint Islamic and Christian religious symbols inside a Hindu temple? Would Islamists or Christians allow Hindu deities or Om symbols to be displayed on their religious premises? This is a serious issue that raises legitimate questions about religious sensitivities and respect for places of worship. The Congress government’s politics surrounding Hindu temples seem never-ending.
