In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has firmly upheld a directive for the Subramaniya Swamy temple in Thiruparankundram to light the sacred Karthigai deepam at a specific stone pillar on the hill. The order reinforces religious customs and limits administrative overreach in matters of faith.
Court Dismisses State's Fears as 'Ridiculous'
A division bench comprising Justice G Jayachandran and Justice K K Ramakrishnan delivered the verdict on Tuesday, confirming an earlier order by a single judge, Justice G R Swaminathan. The bench strongly criticized the Tamil Nadu government's apprehensions that allowing the temple management to light the lamp could disturb public peace.
"It is ridiculous and hard to believe the fear of the mighty state," the judges observed. They pointedly added that any disturbance would likely occur only "if such disturbance is sponsored by the state itself." The court expressed hope that no state would stoop to such levels for political gain.
Legal Battle Over the 'Deepathoon'
The core of the dispute revolved around a stone pillar, known in Tamil as a 'Deepathoon', located on one of the peaks of Thiruparankundram hill. The temple management, or Devasthanam, had sought to light the Karthigai deepam there, a practice they argued was customary.
The judges noted that the appellants, which included the Madurai district collector and the HR and CE department, failed to provide any strong evidence from the Agama Sastra of Saivites that prohibits lighting a lamp at a place not directly above the main deity. The court also established that the pillar is situated on land legally declared as Devasthanam property.
Dismissing a late claim from the Wakf Board, the bench stated, "The Wakf Board, as on date, has no locus standi in this matter." They rejected a "mischievous submission" made during appeals that the pillar belonged to a nearby dargah.
Purpose and Custom of the Festival Light
The court elaborated on the spiritual significance of the practice. It stated that the deepathoon, situated on a lower rock summit separate from the dargah's peak, is an ideal, vantage point for the ritual. The judges cited Saint Thirumoolar, noting that "the light is the personification of Lord Shiva."
"The practice of lighting deepam at an elevated place... is for the devotees at the foothill and its surrounding areas to see and worship," the order explained. With a customary practice and available land within temple limits, the court found no valid reason for the Devasthanam to refuse the devotees' wishes.
Final Directives and Conflicting Claims
The High Court has issued clear instructions for the upcoming festival. The Devasthanam must light the deepam at the deepathoon during the Tamil month of Karthigai. However, no members of the public will be permitted to accompany the temple team. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is tasked with setting conditions to preserve the monument, and the Madurai district collector will coordinate and supervise the event.
The ruling came while disposing of a batch of appeals filed by several parties, including the police commissioner and the TN Wakf Board. During hearings, the state government presented shifting arguments, initially questioning the pillar's identity as a deepathoon, then calling it an ASI survey stone or even a Jain structure.
The court ultimately found these multiple claims served only to complicate the matter unnecessarily, standing by the devotees' right to observe their tradition on temple-owned land.
