By Matters India Reporter
Srirangam: The management of a famous temple in Tamil Nadu have appealed to the public not to fall prey to what it says is a fake propaganda on the visit of Catholic nuns.
The authorities of the Srirangam temple near Trichy on May 14 denied rumors on social media platforms that the nuns had read the Bible and said their prayers on the temple premises. They appealed to the public not to fall prey to such propaganda maligning the reputation and integrity of the ancient temple.
The management has already clarified the nuns wearing their religious dress had visited the Thousand Pillar Mandapam (hall) on the temple premises, as a part of their tour.
The Srirangam temple is the largest temple compound in India and one of the largest religious complexes in the world. Its 21-day annual festival conducted during December–January attracts 1 million visitors. It is located on an island between the Kollidam and Cauvery rivers, about 12 km north of Tiruchirapalli or Trichy.
The temple is dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of the Hindu deity Vishnu. It tops among 108 divine sites dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
The controversy rose after some Hindu outfits in Tamil Nadu on May 11 demanded a case registered against the temple authorities for allowing the nuns’ entry.
The nuns had come as tourists from Kerala on May 8. They went around the 1000 Pillar Mandapam in the prakaram of the temple but did not go inside the holy of holies.
However, the Hindu groups alleged in the police complaint that the nuns’ entry into the temple in their religious attire had made a mockery of the temple sanctity and hurt the sentiments of devotees.
The complaint to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Srirangam) was signed by local leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, World Hindu Council and other local groups.
The temple occupies an area of 63 hectors with 50 shrines, 21 towers, 39 pavilions and many water tanks integrated into the complex. The temple is equipped with CCTV cameras and police security.
(Source: The Hindu)