Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, social media witnessed a drastic surge in the spread of fake news by the pro-Opposition ecosystem which has continued ever since. As part of the mass production of this fake news or falsehoods, the ecosystem has often peddled false narrative around the “mistreatment, disrespect, social ostracisation of Dalits in Hindu temples”, however, this Dalit discrimination boogie can’t be further from the truth. While the vested interest groups allege a wedge between Dalit and Hindu to de-alienate Dalits from the Hindu fold, they get irked everytime when a prominent Dalit Hindu celebrity or leader embarks on a visit to temple to pay their reverence.
This time, the ecosystem attempted its hand with music maestro Ilaiyaraja following his visit to the Srivilliputhur Andal temple in Tamil Nadu on Sunday night. His visit to the Srivilliputhur temple came ahead of the release of his song, “Divya Pasuram”.
For those unversed, the temple authorities had refused his request to approach the sanctum santorum, stating that according to protocol, devotees are typically not permitted there. Now, contrary to the allegation of discrimination, Ilaiyaraaja was well received and felicitated there.
After his temple visit, silk clothes and Andal’s garlands were presented to Ilaiyaraaja as a sign of respect. After that, he went to a cultural event at the Aadi Pooram Kottagai, where a Bharatanatyam performance was followed by a performance of Andal’s Pasurams from his Divya Pasuram album. The occasion was planned to commemorate the start of the month of Margazhi when hundreds of worshippers visit the temple.
However, following his temple visit, the pro-opposition ecosystem gave a casteist spin to his temple visit alleging that he was denied entry to the temple’s Sanctum Santorum to spark the so-called Dalit discrimination row in Hindu temple, citing “discrimination on the basis of caste.”
However, to their utter disappointment, the Music maestro, Ilaiyaraja himself has busted this prepostrous falsehoods. Additionally, the temple management has clarified and cleared the air to rubbish the ecosystem’s canards on the developments that transpired during Ilaiyaraaja’s temple visit.
Rubbishing the ‘discrimination’ narrative around his temple visit, Ilaiyaraaja dubbed such reportage as furtherance of ‘rumours’.
Taking to X, he wrote, “Some people are spreading false rumours centred around me. I am not one to compromise my self-respect at any time or place, and I will not compromise. They are spreading news that did not happen as if it happened. Fans and the public should not believe these rumors”, as translated from Tamil to English.
The clarification also came from the Temple authorities; they mentioned that the restrictions were in adherence to established protocol that are applicable to all devotees, which limits access to certain areas.
One of the head priests, Sri Sadagopa Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamigal said the Andal Temple did not disrespect Ilaiyaraaja. “The temple administration gave him full honours. Ilaiyaraaja also visited Andal Thayar with devotion and satisfaction,” he said.
These kinds of rumours of Dalit marginalization, where the prohibition of people into entering the sanctum santorum, have always surfaced in Indian social media to malign the image of Hindu tradition. However, this is not the case. Incidentally, the ecosystem sympathetic to the I.N.D.I. alliance have given exactly a similar spin to President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Hindu temples which turned out to be blatant propaganda.
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Nonetheless, in order to maintain discipline and tradition, certain rules, such as the timing of entering and the prohibition of entering the sanctum santorum in the South Indian Temple, are prevalent. One should understand and respect the religious tradition before commenting of posting on any platform, as adherence to temple rituals and deity’s puja tradition also holds utmost respect and reverence for devotees.
The Temple Location and the Story Behind it
One of the 108 “Divya Desams” devoted to Lord Vishnu, known as Vatapatrasayi, and Lakshmi ji, known as Andal, is the Srivilliputhur Andal Temple, which is situated in the Virudhunagar district. The temple is well known for its magnificent architecture. Because it is thought to be the birthplace of the Tamil poet-saints Alvars, who greatly influenced Tamil spirituality and cultural manifestations from the Bhakti period, Srivilliputhur is also an important pilgrimage site.
Andal, his foster daughter, is regarded as the only female Alvar recognized for her lyrical contributions, particularly the Tiruppavai and Periyalvar, one of the Alvars.
During the Tamil month of Margazhi, which falls in December or January, a set of 30 Tamil devotional hymns is sung traditionally. Part of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, which consists of 4,000 Tamil lyrics written by the 12 poet-saints of Tamil Nadu, the Alvars, is the Tiruppavai.