Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur, one the six adobes of Lord Muruga, had recently been under major turbulence, owing to the high-handed behaviour of ‘Tirusundarars’, who are not supposed to enter the sanctum sanctorum.
It is alleged that Tirusundarars had been threatening the temple staff and were taking devotees to various shrines in the temple.
The Tiruchendur Murugan temple, as it is popularly known, is one of the important holy places in Thoothukudi district and due to its proximity to the beach it attracts thousands of devotees through out the year.
Of late, the temple is in the midst of controversies due to the ‘high-handedness’ of Tirusundarars who number around 800 persons, according to the temple staff.
There are two other types of poojaris- Pothimargal and Sivachariyargal, who actively participate in the temple activities. Tirusundarars are not allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum. But, taking advantage of their huge group present in the temple, they command the two poojari groups to perform the pooja according to their whims.
As one enters the temple, he or she can find two information boards, one for the paid and another for the unpaid darshan. Approximately, it would take three hours on regular days for a devotee on free darshan queue to have a darshan of the Lord. During festival days the duration may stretch even beyond 12 hours, claim temple officials.
Under the paid darshan , there are three counters, `20, `100 and `250. The problem starts here. When a person approaches the counter to get a ticket from any one of the counters, Tirusundarars’ action starts here, who promise the devotee of a speedy darshan. Tirusundarars meanwhile will take a `100 ticket, but demand `250 from the devotee. After this, they would take the devotee along with his family bypassing others on the queue. They would tell the temple staff that the Th-
akkar had given permission to take the family. If the temple staff refuses to allow them, Tirusundarars would either pick up an altercation or even thrash them.
A similar incident had happened two months back and a temple staff was injured in the attack. The injured staff was later admitted to the Thoothukudi GH.
When a differently-abled person came with his wife and mother, they were not allowed inside and one of the Tirusundarars said that only the differently-abled person would be allowed to have a darshan without waiting in the queue. As the differntly-abled person could not move without the help of his wife he left the temple without having a darshan.
When contacted, M Anbumani, Joint Commissioner of the temple, admitted that the behaviour of Tirusundarars was creating trouble at the temple. He blamed the Thakkar Kottai Manigandan for the high-handed act of Tirusundarars. Kottai Maniga-
ndan, who was arrested for attacking a temple staff, is now out on a condition bail.
He said that the removal of Thakkar could pave the way eliminating all the 800 Tirusundarars from the temple and that would settle all problems surrounding the shrine. Several petitions had been sent to CM cell in this connection and action was awaited.