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| Palani Muruga temple atop the hill, TN |
The Palani Murugan Temple in Tamil Nadu, one of the renowned six aboad of God Muruga (Karthukaya) is a popular pilgrimage center for millions of devotees including those from Kerala. Steeped in its antiquity and significance it is deeply entwined with a remarkable historical and spiritual heritage. in the inner sanctuary - garbhagriha of the hill temple is a unique West facing idol of Lord Muruga (Subramanya) in a saintly posture with a Dhandam (pole). Neither made of a metal idol or stone idol it is carefully crafted from what is called Navapashanam—a rare amalgam of nine medicinal and poisonous herbs processed to minimize toxicity. This idol, attributed to the Siddha Yogi Bogar, is believed to be over 2,500 years old and possesses extraordinary medicinal properties.
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| Yogi Bogar and navabashana idol, Palani hill. navabhasanasiddhar.50webs.com |
The Idol and Its Significance
The Navapashanam idol is central to the temple's rituals, as the substances used during its anointing (Abhishekam) are distributed as Prasadam for their reputed healing benefits. The idol’s composition and preparation techniques remain shrouded in mystery, enhancing its allure among devotees and scholars alike. Historically, the idol has faced wear in some part of the idol due to frequent anointing. Subsequently, the puja rituals were reduced bare minimum to reduce further wear and tear. In the past several years puja rituals ar done only to the processional idol in the sanctum by the priests.
Controversies and Alleged Mismanagement
In the last several decades there is no dearth of controvercies and cases of financial mismanagement against the state Agency HR 7 CE in charge of Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu. In recent decades,
Controversies and allegations surrounding the idol at Palani temple have surfaced, exposing attempts to replace or exploit it for financial gain by a nefarious group in collusion with govt officials. . Since the 1980s, state officials have debated replacing the Navapashanam idol with replicas or alternative idols, citing damage concerns. Such efforts, often viewed with suspicion, have triggered public outrage, with devotees attributing these moves to corruption and greed.
A significant fraud emerged in the 1990s and 2000s when a proposal to replace the idol with a metal (Panchaloha) counterpart led to allegations of misappropriation.
Officials allegedly conspired to replace the Navapashanam idol under the pretense of damage, aiming to profit by selling the original abroad. Such acts triggered investigations, revealing attempts to install a 100-kg golden idol and misuse gold donations collected from devotees. A chemical analysis by IIT Madras in 2018 exposed discrepancies in the gold content, further cementing suspicions of fraud.
Legal and Public Responses
The Madras High Court intervened in 2017, leading to arrests of officials and idol makers involved in the controversy. The Palani Murugan Temple in Tamil Nadu, renowned for its antiquity and significance as a Hindu pilgrimage center, is deeply entwined with a remarkable historical and spiritual heritage. At its core lies the unique idol of Lord Muruga (Subramanya) in a saintly posture, crafted from Navapashanam—a rare amalgam of nine medicinal and poisonous herbs processed to minimize toxicity. This idol, attributed to the Siddha Yogi Bogar, is believed to be over 2,500 years old and possesses extraordinary medicinal properties.
The Idol and Its Significance
The Navapashanam idol is central to the temple's rituals, as the substances used during its anointing (Abhishekam) are distributed as Prasadam for their reputed healing benefits. The idol’s composition and preparation techniques remain shrouded in mystery, enhancing its allure among devotees and scholars alike. Historically, the idol has faced wear due to frequent anointing, leading to reduced rituals and heightened care.
Controversies and Alleged Mismanagement
In recent decades, controversies surrounding the idol have surfaced, exposing attempts to replace or exploit it for financial gain. Since the 1980s, state officials have debated replacing the Navapashanam idol with replicas or alternative idols, citing damage concerns. Such efforts, often viewed with suspicion, have triggered public outrage, with devotees attributing these moves to corruption and greed.
A significant fraud emerged in the 1990s and 2000s when a proposal to replace the idol with a metal (Panchaloha) counterpart led to allegations of misappropriation. An analysis of the proposed Panchaloha idol revealed inconsistencies in its composition, raising questions about the disappearance of gold collected from devotees for its construction. In 2018, a chemical analysis by IIT Madras confirmed these discrepancies, underscoring malpractice.
Legal and Public Responses
The Madras High Court intervened in 2017, leading to arrests of officials and idol makers involved in the controversy. The arrests were made, including those of M. Muthiah Sthapathi, a renowned idol maker, and HR&CE Joint Commissioner K.K. Raja. The investigations revealed a network of dishonest practices involving temple funds and assets, underscoring the need for stricter oversight.
Public faith in the administration remains fragile, as devotees emphasize the temple's spiritual sanctity over administrative inefficiencies and corruption.
Spiritual and Cultural Context
The Palani Murugan Temple is celebrated in Tamil devotional hymns, including those of Saint Arunagirinathar, who praised the temple’s divine glory surpassing even Kashi (Varanasi). The temple represents a confluence of Tamil culture, spirituality, and architectural heritage.
Call for Preservation
The ongoing issues surrounding the Navapashanam idol underscore the need for stringent safeguards to protect such invaluable heritage. Devotees and activists advocate transparency, accountability, and professional stewardship in temple administration to preserve its sanctity and historical essence for future generations.
This saga of fraud in a sanctified place of worship by the Government official is a poignant reminder of how greed has pushed the dishonest officials to the lowest level pushing the divinity, culture and heritage to the back stage.
https://www.hinduismtoday.com/module/smartsection/item.php?itemid=1016
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/hc-hands-back-palani-idol-case-to-manickavel/article23689292.ece
https://en.wikipedia.org
/wiki/Palani_Murugan_temple
https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/what-is-nava-pashanam
http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/nov/20tn.html
http://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/08/stories/2004060815580300.html
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