Thirupparankundram row: Tamil Nadu tells Madras High Court pillar belongs to Jains, not Hindus

What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. When restrictions on animal sacrifice in Thirupparankundram must continue until a competent civil court settles the matter, the same should apply to the petitioners seeking to light the deepam at the deepathoon (stone pillar), counsels for appellants argued before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday (December 15, 2025). It was also submitted that the pillar was established by Jains.

A Division Bench of Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan continued to hear the arguments preferred against the order of Justice G.R. Swaminathan, who directed the Subramaniya Swamy temple management to light the Karthigai Deepam at the deepathoon besides the usual places, and other connected appeals.

Senior Advocate T. Mohan, representing the Sikandar Badusha Dargah, submitted that when they were directed to go to the civil court to establish a custom (animal sacrifice), the petitioners must do the same to establish the custom of lighting deepam at the deepathoon. However, the Single Bench had allowed the petition and permitted the petitioners to light the lamp at the deepathoon, even though it had not been established that the stone pillar was used for the purpose.

The Senior Advocate said they were not able to enjoy the portion of the land as per the judgment in the 1920 original suit.

They could not set up toilet facilities, and no electricity connection and drinking water facilities could be provided, the Senior Counsel submitted, adding that they were not given a proper opportunity to present their case before the Single Bench.

Senior Advocate N. Jothi, representing the Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, submitted that there were books written by experts that discuss stone pillars. The stone pillar on Thirupparankundram hill was established by the Jains and did not belong to the Hindus. There were similar pillars in Madurai district, including the one in Samanar Hills near Keelakuyilkudi, and another at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, he said.

Digambaras (one of the ascetic sects of Jainism), who came from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh to Madurai, used to live in the Thirupparankundram hills. They used the stone pillar for lighting lamps, as they would congregate at night. This was not the place where Karthigai Deepam was lit. The Karthigai Deepam was lit at the Uchipillaiyar temple mandapam and there was reference to this. Any attempt to convert the nature of the stone pillar should not be permitted, it was submitted.

The counsels further said Thirupparankundram was a confluence of people and they were living peacefully. It was reiterated that the Karthigai Deepam was lit only at the Uchipillaiyar temple mandapam, as per the expert opinion of the temple priests. The court will continue to hear the appeals on Tuesday (December 16, 2025).