The original idol of the Muruga in Palani was created and consecrated by sage Bogar, one of Hinduism's 18 great siddhas out of an amalgam of nine highly toxic poisons or nava - pashanam which when mixed in a certain ratio, forms an eternal medicine . The temple was re-consecrated by the Cheras. The sanctum of the temple is of early Chera architecture while the covered ambulatory that runs around it bears unmistakable traces of Pandya influence, especially in the form of the two fishes, and the Pandyan royal insignia.

Several attempts were made to replace the original idol under the guise of wear and tear due to repeated anointment and ritual bathing etc. In 2003 the temple officials decided to make an idol weighing 200 kg, and chief sculptor Muthiah was roped in. They ended up making a 221 kg idol. Besides, while several kilos of gold were collected to make the idol, this was not found in it when the idol wing police tested it with the help of a team from IIT Madras. The Idol Wing – CID police, which had inquired into irregularities behind making a metal idol in 2004, confirmed on 07/07/2019 that the new idol had been made with the larger ploy of smuggling the 5,000-year-old presiding deity out of the country.

As of 2016, the temple was the richest among temples in the state with a collection of 33 crore during the period of July 2015 to June 2016. A temple with a history and tradition of more than 5000 years is now a major source of loot. Funds are diverted from the Pazhani Temple by Govt - are you aware of how much? Known fund transfers amounting to the tune of Rs.63 Crs.

The reasons shown are - For bus stand renovation Rs3.30Crs, Village welfare Rs11Crs, Adhidravidar fund, Free food-Rs18.50Crs, College development Rs3.59Crs plus others summing to Rs62Crs. Is Temple Govt's treasury?

Hindus bear in mind that temples provided free food and education to the people of the community and were self sustained by using their land for agriculture etc.

Why spend on Pazhani bus stand & Rs. 1 crore drinking water project for Thiruchendur?

Thirumala is a Temple Town and it is OK if Temple funds may be used for TTD bus stand. How can Pazhani Temple funds be used by TN Govt for Pazhani bus stand upgradation? Why should Thiruchendur Temple spend Rs 1 Cr for drinking water project? Aren't these day light robbery by Govt? All these districts already have their civic funds and elected representatives to address their issues and developmental projects and are not dependent on Pazhani temple for its funds. The motives are ulterior with the true beneficiaries being the ones who executed this loot.

Pazhani temple’s average annual gross income is Rs 50 Crs. If due rent is collected properly, they can give free rope car / hill train. Pazhani Temple's yearly income (despite loot from Hundi/diversion of rent) is huge at Rs 50 to Rs 60 Crs. From rope car, rail, golden chariot, spl. entrance, its all our money. If lease rents are collected properly, rope car & rail can be run free for devotees! Devotees throng in large nos to Pazhani Murugan Temple. Govt., illegally occupying its land and squeezes devotees with entrance fee, rope car, rail etc. and creates/ carries out yearly Rs 15 Crs projects. with shady tendering. Why can not they at least give prasadam free to the devotees?

Pazhani Temple's Puliyampati -10acres land temporarily taken for Lankan refugees by Govt. is now fully encroached with buildings with Govt's blessings. 10000 Sq Ft Pazhani Hills land leased to Tourism Dept. restaurant built using additional land. Now Revenue Dept says land not Temple's!

Poor devotees starve, toil in crowded Pazhani Temple and put their money into Hundi - Rs 33 Crores in a year? In return what do they get? Govt does little for the temple or devotees. The annual hundi collection of the Pazhani Dhandayudhapani Temple is a whopping 33 crore. According to temple sources, the temple is the highest revenue maker among the temples in Tamil Nadu, and there are festivals throughout the year. The collection through the donations made to the hundis of the temple, by the devotees, crossed 33 crore for the period between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Read full Article in ToI ..

While Pazhani Temple's huge funds are siphoned in the name of Bus Stand, the temple priests are totally neglected. It required the efforts of good hearted people to support them even during Lockdown. Samaritans like @Mahesh10816, @trramesh & Ramesh Kumar were helping them with kits costing Rs 25 lakhs. These Priests are generally targeted, deliberately harassed by officials.

500+ acres of Temple land are encroached and the encroachers are not evicted for 20+ years. About 200 acres low rent leases are given with heavy defaults. Petty shopkeepers in and around Town are allowed to block land & prevent provision of much needed facilities to pilgrims. Still Govt executes on Rs 10 Crs for projects every year whether required or not.

Many TN Temples like Pazhani Temple get large Hundi collection of gold/silver. GO 583/14.04.1988 mandates full appraisal every 3 years. Appraisers check only that years' jewels collections. Full appraisal is carried out only once in 10 -20 years. Deliberate laxity to facilitate loot.

9 July 2020

This article has been written by Samaskarebyaha, a Proud Hindu Nationalist.