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New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Agama violation: Two Perur temple staff suspended
COIMBATORE: Two employees of the Arulmigu Patteeswarar Swamy Temple in Perur have been suspended for allowing a superintendent of police (SP) to worship inside the sanctum sanctorum after temple hours on Sunday. The HR&CE department suspended Velmurugan, a staff member, and Saminathan, a priest, on Wednesday after a video purportedly showing the SP's late-night visit went viral on social media. Following the incident, a devotee had staged a sit-in protest in front of the temple along with members of the Hindu Munnani, demanding action against those who permitted the entry. Sources said the temple staff allowed the officer inside based on instructions from a senior HR&CE official. However, access to the inner precincts of temples after 9 pm is considered a violation of the Agama Vidhi (the temple's rituals and practices prescribed in the Agama scriptures). Meanwhile, the HR&CE department has also banned devotees from carrying cellphones inside the temple. The restriction came into effect on Thursday, coinciding with the Adi Amavasai, when thousands of devotees flock to the shrine. A dedicated counter has been set up to collect mobile phones, and tokens are being issued in exchange. However, officials denied that the ban was linked to the SP incident, stating that the move was already under consideration to prevent devotees from photographing the deities.
New Indian Express
24-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Video of SP's late-night darshan at Coimbatore temple sparks row over Agama rules
COIMBATORE: A video purportedly showing a staff member of Perur Patteeswarar Temple taking a Superintendent of Police (SP) inside the shrine to facilitate darshan for him even after the closure of the sanctum has stirred up a controversy. While the Lord Shiva devotees have been up in arms about the incident since the video went viral on Tuesday and sought the HR&CE department officials to take action against the staff member, the department officials have clarified that the SP visited the shrine before the temple was closed. One of the devotees staged a sit-in on Wednesday seeking action against the HR&CE officials. The Shiva devotees alleged that the temple staff member took the police officer inside the shrine at 9.10 pm on Sunday and it is a violation of 'Agama Vidhi' (the temple's rituals and practices prescribed in the Agama scriptures), as the temple closes at 9 pm. A devotee, who took the video, alleged that the temple staff were favouring higher officials and not the common devotees. Responding to this, a senior HR&CE official told TNIE that the temple staff member took the police officer inside the shrine at 8.50 pm and the timing claimed by the Shivan devotees is wrong. However, a group of Shiva devotees on Wednesday submitted a petition to the district administration seeking to take action against the officials of Perur Patteeswarar Temple along with the staff member in this regard. 'The temple is closed at 9 pm. The entrance door was slightly opened to give way to the priest to come out. However, using this space, the staff member took the police officer inside and facilitated worship in violation of 'Agama Vidhi' which is not acceptable,' said A V Manickavasagam, heading a group of Shiva devotees, who submitted the petition at the collectorate. Manickavasagam claimed that the devotee who took the video on his mobile phone has clear evidence that the staff member took the police officer inside the temple at 9.10 pm.
