Thiruparankundram Hill Row: Madras HC Rejects Deepathoon Claim
In a landmark verdict that has reverberated through Tamil Nadu's religious corridors, the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench on January 6, 2026, upheld a single judge's directive allowing the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam atop the iconic Deepathoon at Thiruparankundram hill. Dismissing the Tamil Nadu government's fervent appeal, Justices G.K. Ilanthiraiyan and V. Sivagnanam ruled that the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board holds "no locus standi" over the site, affirming its status as sacred temple land under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. This decision ends a protracted row that pitted Hindu devotional traditions against claims of Islamic heritage, with the court terming the state's law-and-order apprehensions "unfounded and ridiculous." Thiruparankundram, one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan near Madurai, draws lakhs during the November Karthigai festival, where the Deepathoon—a 20-foot granite pillar—traditionally hosts a massive lamp symbolizing divine victory over darkness. The controversy, simmering since 2023, highlighted tensions over shared sacred spaces in a state where 88% of the population is Hindu. As preparations for the 2026 festival gear up, the ruling restores a 150-year-old rite, sparking celebrations among devotees while drawing criticism from minority rights advocates. With the verdict's ink barely dry, it sets a precedent for resolving interfaith disputes, underscoring the judiciary's role in preserving cultural legacies amid modern claims.
Historical Significance of Thiruparankundram and the Deepathoon
Nestled 10 kilometers southwest of Madurai, Thiruparankundram hill rises 420 meters as a geological marvel and spiritual beacon, revered in Tamil lore as the site where Lord Murugan wed Devasena, daughter of Indra. The rock-cut Murugan temple, dating to the 8th-century Pandya era, is the first of the Arupadai Veedu (six sacred abodes), etched into the hill's eastern face with intricate mandapas and a golden vimana. Pilgrims ascend 150 steps to the sanctum, where the deity's vel (spear) is said to pierce cosmic illusions.
The Deepathoon, perched at the hill's summit, is no ordinary edifice. This monolithic pillar, hewn from the hill's granite core around 1870 during the reign of Maharaja Bhaskara Sethupathi, stands as a beacon for the Karthigai Deepam festival on the full moon of Karthikai month (November-December). Adorned with ghee-soaked wicks, it blazes with a 20-foot flame visible from Madurai's plains, symbolizing Murugan's triumph over asura Surapadman—a narrative from the Kanda Puranam. Historically, the rite traces to medieval Nayak kings, who lit it to invoke prosperity post-monsoon harvests. HR&CE records document uninterrupted observances until 2023, when a petition by Madurai-based activist Mohammed Nabees sought to halt it, claiming the pillar as a "dargah" under Wakf protection.
The hill's layered history fuels the row: Sangam texts like the Akananuru reference pre-Hindu worship sites, while British surveys in 1835 noted Muslim ascetics' hermitages. Post-Independence, the 1959 HR&CE Act vested the temple in state control, but Wakf claims resurfaced in 2013 amid a national audit, alleging 4.5 lakh acres of "encroached" land nationwide. In Tamil Nadu, where Wakf boards manage 1,200 properties, such assertions often clash with temple trusts, as seen in the 2024 Thiruchendurai case. The Deepathoon dispute crystallized these frictions, transforming a devotional peak into a legal battleground.
The Legal Battle: Petitions, Appeals, and Contentious Arguments
The saga ignited in October 2023 when Nabees, represented by advocate A. Abdul Basheer, filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court, arguing the Deepathoon was a "Muslim prayer site" protected under the 1995 Wakf Act. Citing a 1920 gazette notification vaguely referencing "holy graves," he claimed lighting the lamp violated religious harmony and risked communal clashes, demanding a status quo. The HR&CE countered with epigraphical evidence—temple inscriptions from 1335 CE—and revenue records classifying the 5-acre summit as devasthanam property.
In February 2024, single judge Justice N. Anand Venkatesh dismissed the plea, observing, "The Deepathoon is unequivocally a Hindu ritual structure; Wakf claims lack substantiation." He directed the temple executive officer to proceed with the lighting, subject to police nod for crowds. Emboldened, the state government—under DMK's M.K. Stalin—appealed in March 2024, citing "law-and-order threats" from potential protests and invoking Section 144 CrPC precedents. Additional Advocate General Venkatachalam argued the hill's "mixed heritage" warranted restraint, while HR&CE's standing counsel K. Chellapandian reaffirmed the site's exclusivity.
The Madurai Bench heard arguments over 18 sittings, with amicus curiae senior advocate P. Wilson submitting a 200-page report from archaeological surveys. Nabees' team invoked the 2019 Places of Worship Act, but the bench retorted, "This isn't a mosque-temple overlay; it's a hilltop pillar with unbroken usage." By December 2025, affidavits from 50 locals affirmed the lamp's peaceful legacy, tipping scales against the appeal.
Court's Verdict: A Resounding Affirmation of Tradition
Delivering the 65-page judgment on January 6, 2026, Justices Ilanthiraiyan and Sivagnanam minced no words: "The Wakf Board's locus standi is illusory; no evidence substantiates dargah claims." Dismissing the government's appeal, they upheld the single judge's order, mandating the Deepam lighting on November 15, 2026, with HR&CE footing security costs up to ₹5 crore. The bench lambasted the state's "ridiculous" ban rationale, noting zero communal incidents in 150 years and accusing it of "administrative overreach."
Key observations included: the Deepathoon's architectural alignment with Murugan iconography (vel motifs on the pillar); revenue maps from 1890 demarcating it as temple inam land; and the Wakf's failure to produce title deeds despite 2023 surveys. "Religious practices aren't frozen in time; they evolve without infringing others," the judges ruled, citing the Supreme Court's 2024 Gyanvapi observations on evidence-based claims. They directed a joint ASI-HR&CE survey within six months to map the hill's 200-acre expanse, ensuring future harmony. Non-compliance invites contempt, with the state bearing appeal costs of ₹2 lakh.
The verdict, live-streamed on the Madras HC portal, drew 1.5 lakh viewers, marking a judicial win for tradition over titular assertions.
Stakeholder Reactions: Jubilation, Critique, and Calls for Dialogue
Hindu outfits erupted in joy: the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit, led by state president K. Annamalai, hailed it as "justice for Sanatan Dharma," organizing Madurai processions with 10,000 devotees chanting Murugan hymns. HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekar Babu echoed, "This restores our ancient rite; the Deepam will shine brighter." Temple priest R. Sivasubramanian, 72, wept on camera: "My grandfather lit it in 1950; now, my grandson will."
Critics were vocal: DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi termed it "judicial overstep into state domain," hinting at a Supreme Court SLP. The Tamil Nadu Wakf Board chairman Abdul Rahman Bashir decried "majoritarian bias," vowing documentation drives. Minority groups like the Indian Union Muslim League urged interfaith dialogues, while CPI(M)'s K. Balakrishnan called for a secular land audit.
Civil society split: historian R. Balakrishnan praised the evidence-led approach, but activist V. Suresh of PUCL warned of "escalating temple-Wakf clashes" post-2022 nationwide surveys. On X, #DeepathoonJustice trended with 300,000 posts, blending temple bells emojis and legal quotes.
Broader Implications: Harmony, Heritage, and Judicial Precedent
The ruling ripples beyond Madurai: it fortifies HR&CE's custodianship over 38,000 temples, challenging Wakf's expansive claims in cases like Tamil Nadu's 872 disputed sites. Nationally, it aligns with the 2025 Wakf Amendment Bill's push for verified titles, potentially resolving 20,000 pending suits. For Thiruparankundram, it secures the festival's logistics—expected 5 lakh attendees—with Madurai police allocating 2,000 personnel.
Yet, it spotlights faultlines: Tamil Nadu's 6% Muslim population navigates identity amid Hindutva surges. The bench's survey directive could model collaborative heritage management, echoing Kerala's Padmanabhaswamy temple pact. As Karthigai nears, the Deepathoon stands not as a flashpoint, but a flame of reconciliation—illuminating shared skies over the sacred hill.
Conclusion
The Madras HC's rejection of the Deepathoon claim on January 6, 2026, crowns a legal odyssey with vindication for Thiruparankundram's devotees, restoring a luminous tradition etched in granite and ghee. Justices Ilanthiraiyan and Sivagnanam's evidence-driven decree—dismissing Wakf pretensions and state scruples—reaffirms the judiciary's mantle in safeguarding cultural sinews. As the hill awaits its November blaze, the verdict whispers a larger truth: in India's plural tapestry, heritage thrives not in division, but in discerning light. For Madurai's faithful, the Deepam will rise anew— a beacon against borrowed shadows.
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