Court reiterates position on Agama temples
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has observed that permitting non-Hindus to enter temples built and run under Agama traditions would amount to a breach of sanctity. The remarks came while disposing of a public interest petition filed by Thangam Venkatesh.
The Bench comprising Justices G.R. Swaminathan and B. Murugan noted that the issue had already been settled in earlier decisions, including rulings delivered in 1972 and 2024. Though the State’s Additional Advocate General submitted that relevant laws and procedures are being followed and will continue to be followed, the court said it was issuing a clear ruling in view of recent incidents.
The judges also pointed out that, unlike some temples in North India where devotees may touch the Shiva lingam, Agama temples in Tamil Nadu follow stricter customs. Even Hindus are generally not permitted inside the sanctum sanctorum, except priests such as Sivachariyars, Dikshitars, Bhattars or other authorised pujaris, with limited exceptions like consecration ceremonies.
Referring to a past case linked to the Palani temple, the court recalled that a temple cannot be treated as a tourist or leisure spot. It said that if a person does not have faith in the deity, entry cannot be insisted upon, and refusal of entry in such circumstances cannot be treated as an injury to sentiments.
The order also flagged concerns over what it described as recent violations, citing instances involving public representatives entering temple premises and, in another instance, a minister entering a temple without giving the undertaking required from non-Hindus. The court cautioned that when VIP visits occur, supporters may follow without checking whether they are permitted to enter, leading to avoidable friction and breaches of established religious practice.
