The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department on Monday told the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the stone pillar referred to as “Deepathoon” atop the Thirupparankundram hill, near a Dargah, was not a temple lamp pillar and could be a Jain structure.
Submitting before a Division Bench hearing appeals against a December 1 order permitting lighting of a lamp on the pillar during Karthigai Deepam, the department said there was historical and archaeological evidence to establish that the structure was a “Samana Deepathoon” associated with Jain tradition, and not a temple Deepathoon meant for the festival.
The Arulmighu Subramanya Swamy Temple, Thirupparankundram, represented by its Executive Officer, placed material before the Bench to show that the structure near the Dargah was not traditionally used for Karthigai Deepam. It was contended that the authentic Deepathoon connected to the temple was located near the Uchchipillaiyar Temple.
During the hearing of the batch of appeals, counsel for the appellants relied on a book authored in 1920 by scholar Bose, which recorded the traditional location where Karthigai Deepam was lit. A 1981 publication of the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department, carrying a foreword by noted scholar R. Nagaswamy, was also produced to support the claim regarding the historical character of the structure.
The appeals are being heard by a Division Bench comprising Justice G. Jayachandran and Justice K. K. Ramakrishnan. The appeals have been filed by State authorities challenging the order of Justice G. R. Swaminathan, which had permitted lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp on the pillar on December 3.
Senior counsel N. Jyothi, appearing for the HR&CE Department, submitted that religious practices and temple administration were governed by clearly prescribed procedures under the HR&CE framework.
Senior advocate T. Mohan, appearing for the Dargah, submitted that permitting individual interpretations of religious practices would lead to endless disputes.
Senior counsel S. Sridhar argued that for more than a century, Karthigai Deepam had been traditionally lit only at the Uchchipillaiyar Temple. He contended that the petitioner was attempting to alter long-standing temple customs, which did not amount to a legally enforceable individual right.
The Division Bench is hearing the matter as part of a batch of appeals arising out of the December 1 order.
