The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has set aside an order that denied full worship access to an American woman who said she had embraced Hinduism. The dispute related to the Abhishta Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Karappankadu near Pattukkottai in Thanjavur district.
The petitioner, Laura Francis Iyengar, told the court that she is a US citizen who has been following Hinduism and had even mentioned her religion as Hindu in documents such as visa applications. She said she married Varadha Balaji Venkata Krishnan in 2023, and the wedding was held at the same temple.
According to her plea, when she recently visited the temple, some local residents objected to her entry based on the belief that she was not a Hindu. Following a representation sent by her husband, the HR&CE Department’s Pattukkottai Assistant Commissioner issued an order describing her as an “American Christian woman” and permitted her only to remain in the outer precincts, citing Agama rules and devotees’ sentiments.
Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy observed that Hinduism has historically been inclusive and that a person can become a Hindu either by birth or by conversion. The court noted that mere theoretical attachment or a simple declaration is not enough, but genuine intent to embrace the faith coupled with conduct reflecting that intent can establish conversion.
Citing Supreme Court principles, the judge said no formal purification or expiation ritual is mandatory to validate such conversion. Holding that the petitioner’s conduct and belief showed she follows Hinduism, the court ruled that she must be treated as a Hindu devotee, quashed the impugned order, and directed HR&CE officials not to deny her the rights available to a Hindu woman devotee in the said temple or any other temple.
