Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu, where the renowned Arunachaleshwara temple stands, has been in the news for several days. 

The history

Situated at the foot of the sacred Arunachala Hill, this ancient temple is a place of profound significance for devotees of Lord Shiva. With a history of over a thousand years, the temple’s grand architecture, intricate carvings, and towering gopurams (temple towers) captivate visitors and pilgrims alike. 

The grand and majestic Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai boasts an awe-inspiring architectural marvel that has evolved over centuries. One of the most striking features of this sacred complex is its magnificent gopurams, or temple towers, which different kings and dynasties have constructed over the ages.

There is evidence that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj also had a role to play in the restoration of a Shiva temple in Tiruvannamalai over which a mosque was built, but it is unclear whether it is the Arunachaleswara temple or some other. 

Spiritual significance of Tiruvannamalai

The temple’s spiritual aura is heightened by its association with the great saint Sri Ramana Maharshi, who spent much of his life in quiet meditation in its precincts. Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleshwara Temple is not just a place of worship but a center of tranquility and spirituality that draws people worldwide seeking solace and enlightenment.

The Arunachaleswarar Temple holds a unique and significant place for Hindus as an “Agni Sthalam.” The term “Agni Sthalam” roughly translates to “the abode of fire” signifying the temple’s deep-rooted connection with the element of fire, which Lord Shiva symbolises in his form as “Arunachaleswara” or “Annamalaiyar.”

It is one of the 5 Panchamahabhoothas/elements, and the sacred hill is considered to represent the element of fire. Devotees and pilgrims believe that circumambulating the Arunachala hill, known as “Girivalam,” is a spiritual practice that helps cleanse one’s sins and bestows divine blessings. This ritual is often performed at night and is said to be a powerful way to connect with the fire element and attain spiritual awakening.

The temple complex features numerous shrines and sacred tanks. The annual Kartigai Deepam festival, celebrated with great fervour, involves lighting a massive lamp on the hill, visible for miles around and considered a divine symbol of the fire element’s presence. It is said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was instrumental in establishing this festival. 

Why is it in the news?

The temple is in the news now because the Tamil Nadu government’s Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments has decided to use temple funds to build a shopping complex right in front of the Rajagopuram. 

It is noteworthy that the government in the state has allocated a substantial sum of 6.4 crore rupees from the Arunachaleswarar temple’s own funds to construct a shopping center directly in front of the temple. This decision received approval from Minister PK Sekar Babu, who had conspicuously participated in the Eradicate Sanatana Dharma Conference a few months ago. 

Temple activist TR Ramesh, in an impassioned plea on social media platform X, urged people to support the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai being declared a National Monument by the central government. This ancient temple boasts an extraordinary heritage that deserves preservation and protection for future generations. 

Here’s why the demand is valid and needs to gain momentum.

UNESCO’s concerns and the need for ASI supervision

UNESCO had previously alerted the Hon’ble Madras High Court to grave structural violations within the temple complex. These violations were reportedly carried out by the TN HR&CE department over 70 years. The Department’s recent plan to construct a commercial shopping complex right in front of the East Gopuram further fuelled concerns as it blatantly disregards the temple’s aesthetic and spiritual value. To fund this controversial project, the Tamil Nadu Government issued an order drawing a staggering Rs 5.99 crores from the temple’s funds.

Moreover, encroachments near the temple and its connected ancient structures in Tiruvannamalai have raised fears that the HR&CE department, based on its track record, will not take adequate measures to preserve these sacred sites or remove these encroachments.

One particularly alarming development is the removal of an ancient structure known as the Puravi Mandapam, replaced by a modern luxury office for the Department’s officer stationed within the temple premises. This presence contradicts a Madras High Court order dated 13.12.1951.

The Department has also introduced questionable additions to the temple, including the construction of two cottages within the temple grounds, along with public toilets, in violation of heritage and agamic principles. This seemingly sacrilegious act of building cottages within an ancient agamic temple has sparked outrage.

Furthermore, many ancient mandapams within the temple have been marred by the placement of cement structures. These modern constructions must be carefully removed to restore the heritage.

UNESCO’s observations and unheeded recommendations

After an inspection of the temple in 2017, UNESCO’s observations pointed out the deplorable structural violations conducted by the HR&CE department. Astonishingly, none of the recommendations put forth by UNESCO have been acted upon by the Tamil Nadu Government or the HR&CE Department.

Income tax dept notifies that temple is of archaeological importance

The Income-Tax Department had recognized the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple as a place of archaeological and artistic importance as early as 1970. The temple’s majestic Eastern Gopuram, as depicted in a 1961 publication by the Government of India, serves as a testimony to its historical grandeur.

Recent SC ruling

In 2022, the Supreme Court of India declined a plea to revisit the 1863 Religious Endowments Act, asserting that the Act’s purpose is to establish temples that cater to the “larger needs of society.” In the present day (2023), the Tamil Nadu government allocating 6.4 crore rupees from the funds of the Arunachaleswarar temple to build shops within the temple’s precinct has raised questions about whether the construction of shops aligns with the concept of serving the “larger needs of society.” These events have reignited the debate surrounding the necessity and relevance of the 1863 Religious Endowments Act. 

A plea for immediate action

Concerned voices of Hindus are calling upon the Ministry of Culture to declare the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple a National Monument without further delay. This would facilitate preserving and protecting its remarkable structures and surroundings under the Archaeological Survey of India. 

Unless decisive action is taken, there is a looming threat that the HR&CE department in Tamil Nadu, which has been overseeing the temple since 1951 in violation of court orders, will proceed with plans to build a shopping complex on temple land funded by the temple’s resources.

Temple activists like TR Ramesh have been fighting to save our temples for years; it is time the common man also wakes up and works towards saving our temples and culture. After all, it is our temples that keep us Hindu, without our deities and our heritage, it is a big question if Hindu Dharma will continue to live on. As political commentator Anand Ranganathan said, “What the invaders couldn’t manage, the indigenous will.”