Tamil Nadu Mandir bans priests from accepting Dakshinas, sparks outrage

Most of us are familiar with the strong aversion the ruling Dravidian party in Tamil Nadu has toward Hindu Dharma. We have witnessed this on numerous occasions over the last few decades, particularly in the last 2–3 years since the current Government came to power. Here is yet another news piece that reaffirms this. This incident is from the Dandayuthapani Swami Temple in Madurai.

Temple order bans priests from accepting dakshina 

On February 7, the temple administration under the Tamil Nadu HR & CE (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments) Department, issued a circular prohibiting priests from accepting offerings placed by devotees on their plates.

This is the translation of the order issued in Tamil : ‘At the Thandayutha Swamy Temple located on Netaji Road in Madurai, priests should not take offerings placed by devotees on the aarti plate. They should only take the money and deposit it in the money box; otherwise, strict action will be taken.’

The order also entrusts the temple bellmen with the responsibility of depositing these offerings into the temple treasury.

Indu Makkal Katchi Condemns the Order

The order has sparked outrage among Hindu groups such as the Indu Makkal Katchi, which condemned it as blatant Government interference in rituals integral to Hindu Dharma.

Solaikannan, the Madurai District leader of the party, expressed shock, stating that the priests at this temple receive no salaries from the TN HR & CE Department and rely entirely on the offerings placed by devotees for their livelihood.

He further emphasized that the order is a direct violation of the Hindu Religious Endowment Act and warned that the party would launch a mass agitation if it is not immediately revoked.

The TN Government has a habit of meddling in Hindu affairs, and as I mentioned before, this is just one more instance in a long list of such interferences. In April 2024, four priests at the Vanabadrakaliamman Temple in Coimbatore District were arrested for keeping donations left by devotees on puja thalis. Please note the headline and strong wording, such as ‘swindling devotee offerings,’ provided by The Hindu to report this. (Please see the small image given ahead.)

TN HR & CE and Temple Mismanagement

The TN HR & CE Department manages over 44,000 Hindu temples and Mutts across the State. Unfortunately, many historic temples are in a deplorable state due to land encroachments, poor maintenance, and sheer neglect. (Please see heartbreaking images of our sacred spaces above – the big image.)

According to a 2020 statement by the TN HR & CE Department, daily pujas are not conducted in around 12,000 temples due to insufficient revenue. Nearly 34,000 temples generate less than ₹10,000 annually, and around 37,000 temples have just one person to manage puja, maintenance, security, and other duties.

Low Salaries, Government Interference and the Threat to Temples

It has been reported in the past that staff at TN temples are usually paid a pittance, and in many cases, it is alleged that even that meagre amount is not paid.

In April 2023, Justice Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court passed an order stating that the State cannot wash its hands of its consequential obligations toward temple staff. The order emphasized that temple staff must be paid a proper salary for the work they do.

The High Court issued this order in response to a petition filed by Periyanambi Narasimha Gopalan, an archakar at the Rajagopalaswamy Kulasekara Aalwar Temple in Ambasamudram. In this particular case, Justice Swaminathan noted that Gopalan was receiving a monthly salary of ₹750 in 2017, which was later increased to ₹2,984 in 2019. The Court observed that temple staff can’t lead a decent life on such an inadequate salary.

Wherever temple staff are underpaid, they are left to survive solely on Dakshinas or donations from devotees. By forcing priests to deposit these donations into the temple treasury, the State is effectively condemning them to a life of poverty, ensuring they cannot sustain themselves. This deliberate attempt to strip priests of their livelihood will inevitably lead to a shortage of pujaris, disrupting daily rituals. Once the pujas are disrupted, the temples gradually fall into decline and die a slow death.

Significance of Dakshina in Hindu Dharma

In Hindu Dharma, the practice of offering Dakshina holds great significance. Dakshinas are given in various contexts, such as to Gurus or Acharyas as a gesture of gratitude and recognition for the teachings received. They are also offered to priests after performing rituals, playing a crucial role in the completion of sacrificial rites.

Additionally, Dakshinas are presented during initiations, further symbolizing respect and reverence.

HR & CE withdraws the circular

After this incident came to light, the HR & CE Department intervened and withdrew the circular on February 9.

K. Chelladurai, the Joint Commissioner of the Department, stated : ‘There is no need to issue a circular since the priests of the temple have been submitting the collection in the hundi, as it is the existing practice.’ He also added that the Department has sought an explanation from the executive officer on why the circular was issued.

Although the circular has been withdrawn, it is clear that the priests are no longer allowed to accept Dakshinas.

About the Temple

The Dandayuthapani Temple is believed to be 1,000 to 2,000 years old and is renowned for its exquisite ‘Alankara’ dressing of Bhagwan Muruga, who appears in royal attire. The temple’s main hall features stunning sculptures depicting the six army camps (Padai Veedu) of Lord Muruga.

In the sanctum sanctorum, Bhagwan Muruga is enshrined as Dandayuthapani, holding a staff in his right hand and resting his left hand on his hip. It is also believed that the Saivite Saint Sundarar, a close associate of Shiva, visited Madurai in the 7th century and stayed at this temple.

DMK and Eradicate Sanatana

In September 2023, Udayanidhi Stalin, the current Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu and the son of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, sparked a major controversy when he compared Sanatana Dharma to Dengue and Malaria. Speaking at a ‘Sanatana Abolition Conference,’ he remarked that Sanatana Dharma should not only be opposed but eradicated. Nearly a year and a half since this episode, he has stood his ground and refused to apologize for his remarks.

A large section of Hindus in Tamil Nadu and Kerala are ‘secular,’ which is why such remarks rarely lead to an electoral backlash. This was evident when the DMK swept the general elections just a few months later. More often than not, the majority of Hindus in these States, out of sheer ignorance or apathy, end up dismissing such remarks by politicians against their faith.

The time for action is now. Sanatana Hindu Dharma in Tamil Nadu will be relegated to history if we don’t wake up-now !

(Courtesy : Article by Anand Adiyodi posted on hindupost.in; 10.2.2025)

(Anand is a Kriya Yoga practitioner, and political analyst with a deep passion for spiritual exploration and Sanatana Dharma. As a committed spiritual seeker, he critiques contemporary political and social issues through a Southern Indian lens, blending traditional wisdom with modern perspectives.)

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By forcing priests to deposit donations into the temple treasury, the State is effectively condemning them to a life of poverty !