The Tamil Nadu government has presented a significant historical claim before the Madras High Court, stating that a stone pillar atop the Thiruparankundram hill near Madurai is a heritage of Jain saints and does not belong to the Hindu community. The submission was made on Monday, citing authoritative books by archaeologists.
Archaeological Evidence Presented in Court
During the hearing, the senior counsel representing the Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department elaborated on the pillar's origins. The counsel referenced archaeological texts which indicate that Jain followers from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh first migrated to Karnataka and subsequently arrived in the Madurai region.
Saints of the Digambara sect are recorded to have lived on these hills. The stone pillars found there, including the one in dispute, were historically used by these ascetics to light lamps during their nightly congregations. The government's counsel pointed out the existence of similar pillars on other hills in Madurai district, such as the Samanar hills in Keelakuyilkudi, a known ancient Jain site, and at the major Jain pilgrimage center of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka.
The Legal Dispute Over Karthigai Deepam
The court is currently hearing a series of appeals that challenge a single judge's previous order. That order had directed the management of the Subramaniya Swamy temple to light the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon, or stone lamp post, located on one of the peaks of Thiruparankundram hill.
A division bench comprising Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramakrishnan is presiding over the matter. The hearing has brought forward contrasting arguments from different parties involved in the site, which also hosts the Sikandar Badusha dargah.
Dargah's Counsel Highlights Legal Inconsistency
The legal representative for the Sikandar Badusha dargah, which is also situated atop the hill, presented a contrasting argument. The counsel reminded the court that in a prior case, a division bench had ruled against the practice of animal sacrifice in the area. For that issue, the court had directed the dargah to approach a civil court to establish its customary right to animal sacrifice.
The dargah's counsel argued that a similar standard of proof should apply in the current case. He pointed out that when the present petitioners sought permission to light the Karthigai Deepam at the pillar, the single judge ruled in their favor. This decision was made despite the fact that it has not been legally established that the structure is indeed a Deepathoon or lamp post meant for Hindu rituals.
The counsel contended that the claim of it being a Hindu lamp post must first be proven before a civil court, following the precedent set by the high court's order in the dargah's case. He further submitted that local Hindu and Muslim residents have historically coexisted without conflict, and suggested that outsiders with vested interests were attempting to create communal tension.
The hearing has been adjourned and is scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
