Stop demolition of ancient temples, religious leaders in Coimbatore urge TN government
Temples shouldn’t determine within the encroachments checklist; if the construction should go, then the State authorities may seek the advice of spiritual heads and search for methods to shift these temples, they stated
The continued drive to demolish historical temples with wealthy histories and legacies, within the title of elimination of encroachments, will solely end in folks shedding confidence within the State authorities, stated spiritual leaders right here on Tuesday.
Over the previous couple of days, the State authorities has launched into a drive to demolish temples below the pretext of elimination of encroachments, hurting the spiritual sentiments of the bulk. In Coimbatore Metropolis alone, three temples on the banks of Muthannankulam have been demolished, they charged.Whereas one of many temples is 100 years previous, the opposite one was 125 years previous.
The plea has been positioned by a federation of Hindu spiritual heads particularly Perur Adhinam Shantalinga Marudhachala Adigalar, Siravai Adhinam Gowmara Mutt Kumaragurupara Swamigal, Manikanda Swamigal of Varahi Peetam and Sri Shivalingeshwara Swamigal of Kamatchipuri Adhinam.
Worshipping gods and goddesses alongside the river and tank bunds is a Hindu custom. A constructing constructed by a person on or alongside the water physique may very well be deemed an encroachment, however positively not a temple worshipped by a group, the leaders stated.
Temples shouldn’t determine within the encroachments checklist. If the construction should go, then the State authorities may contemplate and seek the advice of spiritual heads and search for methods and means to shift these temples. Underneath such circumstances, the spiritual heads would information them within the shifting of temples adhering to Agama guidelines.
Nonetheless, the official equipment was demolishing Hindu temples indiscriminately with scant regard for spiritual sentiments, whereas such harsh measures weren’t adopted within the case of locations of worship of different religions. Such actions clearly show the discriminatory strategy of the official equipment, they stated.
The 1993 Non secular Locations of Worship Safety laws enacted by the Parliament clearly states that locations of worship that existed in 1947 throughout Independence ought to live on and shall not be disturbed by anybody together with the State. Therefore, the actions within the latest previous had been in contravention of regulation. In Hinduism, the dictum is to not stay in a spot and not using a temple and all occasions within the lifetime of Hindus evolve across the temple and considering such sentiments, the State authorities ought to halt the continued demolition drive, the plea added.
Not simply in Coimbatore, a 300-year-old Poo Mariamman Temple close to Basin Bridge railway station and a 200-year-old Deivamada Vazhavandthal temple in Ilandhiyendal of Madurai district have additionally been razed down, the spiritual heads added.