On Tuesday, February 4th, thousands of Hindus gathered at Palakkanatham in Madurai to protest against the Islamists who are reportedly asserting ‘ownership’ over the Thiruparankundram hill, home to an ancient Murugan Temple. The Hindu Front organized the demonstration with the presence of 3,500 police officers who were deployed in the area following court approval for the protest.
According to local reports, the court permitted the Hindu Munnani to hold a protest at Palaganatham Roundabout between 5 pm and 6 pm. However, the demonstration took place despite the police's prohibitory orders under Section 144, which had been enforced for February 3rd and 4th.
Thousands of Murugan devotees participated, raising slogans in praise of Lord Murugan and the Hindu community. Protestors from all over Tamil Nadu, including women, took part, and over 50 Hindu organizations, including the BJP, RSS, Hindu Munnani, Hindu Front, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, joined the protest, voicing opposition to the Islamization of the Thiruparankundram hill.
Several videos from the protest spread widely on social media, showing participants raising saffron flags and chanting slogans to protect the ancient Murugan Temple on the hill in Madurai. The protest wrapped up before 6 pm, after which heavy police presence remained in the area.
This protest followed recent orders from Tamil Nadu police in Madurai district, prohibiting Muslim community members from transporting livestock for sacrifice to the claimed Sikandar Badusha Dargah on Thiruparankundram hill. The police clarified that while cooked meat could be transported, the ban specifically applied to the transportation of live animals like goats and chickens for sacrifice.
The decision sparked religious tensions in the district, as the hill also hosts the ancient Murugan Temple near the Dargah. Indian Union Muslim League MP Nawaz Kani raised concerns with the police, who maintained the ban on transporting animals for sacrifice. Kani argued that Muslims should be allowed to restore the traditional practice of bringing goats and hens for sacrifice on the hill.
The issue reportedly began on December 27th, 2024, when a Muslim family, led by Syed Abu Dahir from Malaiyadipatti, attempted to bring animals for sacrifice. The police detained the family, which led to protests by 20 Islamists. On January 5th, a large Muslim protest took place at the base of the hill, demanding free access to pray at the Dargah. The police made several detentions after confrontations broke out. Muslims assert that Sultan Sikandar built the Sikandar Badushah Thozhugai Pallivasal on the hill about 400 years ago.
On January 18th, the SDPI organized a planned sacrifice of goats and chickens on the hill, with several social media posts revealing the Muslims’ intentions. Hindu Munnani members opposed this, fearing that Muslims were attempting to convert the hill, one of Lord Murugan’s six sacred abodes, into an Islamic site. The police erected barricades, permitting the transportation of cooked meat but prohibiting sacrifices. This led to clashes between the Jamath members and police.
On January 21st, DMK Manapparai MLA Abdul Samad unofficially surveyed the hill, asserting control over the premises. Nawaz Kani also claimed that the entire area was Waqf property and every Muslim had the right to pray at the Dargah as they wished, further emphasizing the long-standing tradition of animal sacrifices on the hill.
It is important to note that Thiruparankundram Hill holds significant religious importance for Hindus, housing ancient Jain caves and the Murugan Temple. The Jain caves, dating back to the 2nd century BCE, feature Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, as recorded by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). However, Muslims involved in the conflict have started referring to the hill as ‘Sikandar Hills,’ in relation to the Sikandar Badusha Dargah.
Muslims Asserting Ownership of the Hills, Renaming Them 'Sikander Hills'
It may seem that the claims made by Muslims are recent, following police orders, but in reality, Muslims have been asserting their ownership of the hills since the 19th and 20th centuries. The hill, which holds great significance for Jains and Hindus, is being referred to as 'Sikandar Hills' by Muslims, which threatens the sanctity of the temple and Jain caves. It is important to note that, historically, legal authorities have confirmed that the hill primarily housed the Lord Murugan temple, and that Lord Muruga was regarded as the region’s primary deity.
In 1931, similar claims were made by Islamists, who argued that the hill belonged to Muslims and that its name was 'Sikandar Hills.' On May 12, 1931, the Privy Council acknowledged the issue and stated that Thiruparankundram Temple had established its historical ownership of the unoccupied portions of the hill, having treated it as its property for generations.
The council was deliberating on the issue of the confiscation of endowed villages and the assumption regarding the temple's ownership of the surrounding wasteland. “The question at hand is whether any presumption should be drawn from the confiscation of the endowed villages concerning the property rights in the wasteland situated within the Ghiri Veedhi, which forms part of the Malaiprakaram. It is admitted that the village of Thiruparankundram, where the temple is located, was part of this endowment,” the Privy Council judgment read.
The Thiruparankundram Temple is one of the most venerated temples in southern India, dedicated to Subramanya, the son of Lord Shiva. The deity’s shrine is intricately carved within the hill, signifying the long-standing and ancient presence of the temple. Surrounding the hill is a two-mile pilgrim path, where devotees perform circumambulation (pradakshina) around the deity. This path, known as Ghiri Veedhi, is regarded as part of the temple’s domain. In 1144, it was referred to as the Malaiprakaram of the temple.
Historical Records Indicate No Interference from Mahomedan Invaders
In the 1931 council judgment, the Subordinate Judge clarified that "prakaram" refers to the outer area of the temple, and "Malai" means hill. He stated, “The Thiruparankundram Temple had proven its historical possession of the unoccupied portions of the hill, treating it as its property for generations,” Notably, historical records also indicate that the Mahomedan invaders did not interfere with the hills.
Reports suggest that some Muslims may have constructed residences on the hilltop in the past, prompting the Hindus to accept such development. Nevertheless, the rights to the temple remained with the Hindus, as granted by the East India Company, which recognized the temple’s ownership of the land. The then-government also regarded the entire hill as temple property, as confirmed by the Subordinate Judge.
“During some interval of Mahomedan domination that mosque and some Mahomedan houses were built, but this was an infliction which Hindu occupants of the hill could have been forced to put up with. Thus, rights which temple could assert against Respondent were rights which East India Company granted to them,” the original documents regarding the case read.
Local Hindus claim that, under the pretext of religious festivals, sections of the hill have been gradually encroached upon by local Muslims. Additionally, the Tamil Nadu government’s HR&CE Department has faced allegations of engaging in appeasement politics, further intensifying communal tensions.
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