Plea Seeking Excavation Of 'Eganaathar Gurumadam' Temple: Madras High Court Directs State To Conduct Inspection
Entertaining a plea seeking the excavation of the temple, by name, Eganaathar Gurumadam, said to have been housed by the Siddhars, the Madras High Court last week directed the State Government to conduct inspection and submit its report. The Bench of Justice M. M. Sundresh and Justice S. Ananthi directed the State of Tamil Nadu and Tami University to conduct a joint inspection of...
Entertaining a plea seeking the excavation of the temple, by name, Eganaathar Gurumadam, said to have been housed by the Siddhars, the Madras High Court last week directed the State Government to conduct inspection and submit its report.
The Bench of Justice M. M. Sundresh and Justice S. Ananthi directed the State of Tamil Nadu and Tami University to conduct a joint inspection of the place, assess the materials available and file a detailed report by 30th March 2021.
The plea before the Court
A Writ Petition has been moved before the High Court seeking direction to conduct a dedicated archaeological excavation in Eganaathar Gurumadam Temple and the open place located adjacent to the Temple and other places in and around the outskirts of Kinnimangalam Village, Thirumanagalm Taluk, Madurai District.
It is said that this temple was once housed by the Siddhars and it contains Tamil Brahmin inscriptions depicted on the pillars and there are subsequent inscriptions in the Tamil language.
The Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the proposed excavation with respect to the language and the archeological work would have an impact of rewriting the history.
It was contended that for the first time, there is a script in the Tamil language depicted in a pillar and which could give a lead to the theory that construction was in existence much earlier, than it was thought, by using pillars and stones.
It was also submitted that in the said place, certain materials are also available including beats, jewels, and other iron instruments and that the Siddhars, who are involved, were buried in and around the temple precincts.
Lastly, it was argued that though there is a rampant encroachment, the vacant site nearby the temple, if excavated, could unearth inner interesting materials.
Court's observations
The Court noted that initially, Tamil Brahmin script used three different words, namely, 'Eagan', 'Aathan' and 'Kottam', while the subsequent one combines them and therefore, a thorough study is required.
The Court also observed that the temple is also in possession of some of the materials unearthed at the time of removing the earth.
"It appears that the present descendants are also in possession of some of the written materials, among the others. Therefore, a detailed study is required in this regard", the Court observed.
Thus, in such view of the matter, the Court directed the inspection of the aforesaid place, and sought a report.
The Court also directed an Officer of State of Tamil Nadu and Dr.V.Selvakumar, Associate Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Maritime History and Marine Archeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur, to be present before the Court on the next date of hearing.
The Court also requested one K. T. Gandhirajan, a private Archaeologist, who made initial excavation of the place to render his assistance to the team of officials of the TN Government and Tamil University sixth respondents and also be present before this Court on the next date of hearing.
Further, the Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Chennai, was suo-motu impleaded as a respondent in the writ petition and asked to visit the site and submit an independent report.
Case title – Arulanandam M. v. The Union of India and others [WP(MD)No.6023 of 2021]
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