After death of devotee, entry to Tiruvannamalai’s Idukku Pillayar Temple restricted for obese, elderly, and ailing persons

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has restricted entry to the Idukku Pillayar temple on the Girivalam path near the Arunachaleswara temple in Tiruvannamalai for devotees with obesity, those who are unwell, and senior citizens. The action comes after 36-year-old S. Manikumar from Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh died of a cardiac arrest while trying to exit a narrow passage after offering worship at the temple on July 25.

Temple officials said the century-old shrine, located on the 14-km-long Girivalam path, has a narrow passage about one foot wide. Devotees have to negotiate the passage to offer worship at the small temple.

Following the July 25 incident, HR&CE officials prohibited entry to devotees with obesity, those with health problems, and senior citizens. The department also installed steel beams about one foot apart at the temple entrance. Only devotees who are able to pass through the gaps between the beams are allowed to worship at the temple. Security personnel were also deployed to ensure the safety of devotees.

Worship time change

The HR&CE Department also restricted the temple’s worship timings. Accordingly, the temple will remain open only between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on all days, including Sundays. However, devotees will be allowed to worship round the clock only on Pournami days.

The temple authorities have also introduced the following helpline numbers for emergencies: 9047937733, 9445086172, 9498100439, and 843811175.

The 36-year-old’s death was the third such incident in the region in recent years. In May 2024, a 47-year-old man from Bengaluru died of a cardiac arrest while climbing the steep steps leading to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple atop a hillock in Sholinghur near Ranipet. In April 2024, 14-year-old S. Harish died while climbing down from a hilltop temple in Ratnagiri near Arcot in Ranipet district.