Despite an earlier direction by the Bench, the lamp was not lit on an ancient stone pillar near a Dargah on the Thirupparankudram hill here on Karthigai Deepam this evening, triggering protests by the Hindu Munnani activists and a section of devotees.
The Deepa Thoon controversy, if not allowed to die a natural death, could take the election focus away from the anti-incumbency impacting the DMK and into the secular space. Stalin would love to have it that way, all over again, after the three past elections, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.
As per the practises and tradition at the temples, any offerings made into the hundial directly goes into the account of the deity of that temple. Rules do not permit the administration to return the offerings back to the devotees, Babu told reporters in Chennai.
He said that Chief Minister MK Stalin has been implementing a number of initiatives through the HR&CE department since the DMK came to power in 2021.
'It is not as if Hindus are not being touched at all, and only Muslims are.'
...the DMK chief minister's campaign -- which includes criticism of the BJP's 'pro-Hindutva, anti-Tamil, anti-federal' policies and building on his own government's social welfare programmes targeting especially women and youth -- appeals to Tamil Nadu's voters in next year's assembly election, explains N Sathiya Moorthy.
The actress, who is a Bharatiya Janta Party state executive member, alleged that a temple official prevented her from having darshan and demanded proof of being a Hindu.
Justice S Srimathy of the HC's Madurai Bench gave the judgement while hearing a plea from D Senthilkumar, who sought directions to the respondents to permit Hindus alone to the Arulmigu Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple and its sub-temples.
The Bharatiya Janata Party vs ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam battle over live telecast of the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration in Tamil Nadu shrines reached the Supreme Court on Monday, with the apex court asking the authorities to act in accordance with the law and not based on any oral instructions.
Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday said women are all set to enter temples in Tamil Nadu as priests under the Dravidian model of governance.
Stalin's comments came two days after Naidu said there was a need to manage the population in Andhra Pradesh given there will be an increase in the aging population.
Citing a Tamil daily's reportage, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday alleged that the Tamil Nadu government administered temples have barred puja for Lord Ram on the day of the consecration of the grand temple in Ayodhya, which was dismissed by the state as a false news with ulterior motives.
DMK general secretary Duraimurugan announced through a statement in Salem that Manikam has been placed under suspension for violating the party discipline.
Taking the opportunity to close the gender gap in the profession, three young women -- one the first graduate in a family, another a graduate and the third a postgraduate -- have chosen to take up the sacred vocation of priest in a Hindu temple.
The feud between two women officers was out in public in the last few days, with Nag announcing resignation at a press conference, accusing Sindhuri of "harassment".
The Madras high court has ruled that pedigree based on caste will have no role to play in the appointment of archakas (priests) in temples and allowed trustees to appoint any person well-versed and qualified to perform the puja as per the requirements of the temple Agama.
Thursday was the day results from the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections and by-elections in Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh were out, so what were some of our leaders up to?
In a sudden move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday sacked six of her ministerial colleagues and inducted an equal number to replace them.
India was a secular country and even the Constitution permits taking an oath in the name of God or the Constitution, the bench pointed out.
Vigilance officials on Friday conducted raids at premises belonging to former Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam minister K R Periyakaruppan across Tamil Nadu in connection with a disproportionate assets case. The raids by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption are going in Chennai and Sivaganga districts, DVAC sources said. Periyakaruppan is a former Hindu religious and charitable endowments minister.
Vijayendra Saraswathi, 48, had become the 70th acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam on May 29, 1983.
The bench took on record the statement of senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari for Tamil Nadu that there are no restrictions on 'puja archana' in temples or live telecast of consecration ceremony at Ayodhya.
The MLA Hasan Ali wanted to see for himself the cracks in the temple's East Tower.
The bypoll is considered a test for ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led front, which assumed office five months ago.
About 75 elephants were expected to take 'rest' in the camp at Theppakkadu, being organised by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments for the third year in a row.
One of the first acts he did as minister was to issue an order enabling all Hindus, irrespective of caste or creed, to become temple priests.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday turned 68, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting the leader on her birthday.
The quarrel between Roopa and Rohini Sindhuri Dasari on Monday reached the office of the Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma, with both of them submitting a petition seeking action against each other, and explaining their stance.
A 32-ground land parcel in Chennai worth crores of rupees and owned by a Shiva temple was taken over by authorities on Sunday while officials were directed to initiate action to take possession of nearly 100 more grounds of land belonging to the same shrine, the government said.
The Madras high court has declared that the statue of the main deity at a temple in Salem district is that of Buddha and not 'Thalaivetti Muniappan'.
The two-day event at the ancient shrine, categorised as 'Great Living Chola Temples,' by the UNESCO, faced the ire of pro-Tamil outfits.
The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday lifted the restriction on weekend worship in temples with effect from today and also permitted all shops including restaurants and bakeries to function till 11 pm.
The apex court also issued notice on the interim relief sought in the plea for restraining the state from appointing or dismissing 'archakas' (priests) at temples and Hindu religious institutions in the state till the disposal of the petition.
Following the Chola era tradition, the pontiff of the Thiruvaduthurai Aadeenam presented the sengol to the first Prime Minister of India Nehru signifying the transfer of power from the British to Indian hands.
The bickering between allies All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu over late Dravidian stalwart C N Annadurai peaked on Monday with the regional party snapping ties with the saffron organisation, saying it cannot tolerate any affront to the late chief minister and its other leaders.
Justices V Ramasubramanian and N Kirubakaran stayed the order while admitting an appeal filed by the HR&CE department and one G Sarika of Southern Districts Women's Federation.
Devotees entering temples in Tamil Nadu will have to follow a new dress code from January 1 as several important shrines have put up notice boards highlighting this.
For the first time in three decades, Nungambakkam, a core city area recorded 8 cmin a single day and suburban Red Hills 13 cm followed by 12 cm in Perambur, also in the city.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam legislator and the party's youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin was sworn in as minister in Chennai on Wednesday by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi.