Kannagi temple on the verge of extinction

Tuesday April 8 2008 08:55 IST
P KRISHNASWAMY

THENI: The Kannagi temple on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala is likely to vanish if the negligence continues, according to devotees of Kannagi.

The shrine is located about seven km from Pazhiankudi in Theni district and had been within the limits of ward 21 of Gudalur Municipality, before Kerala made a claim to it. Cheran Chenguttuvan, the king of Kerala, had erected the temple for Kannagi at Vannathiparai and called it Mangaladevi Kannagi temple and performed regular pujas.

In 1935, the then government issued an order that anyone could proceed to the temple and offer worship. In 1982, some of the devotees were arrested by the Kerala police for allegedly cutting trees, on Chitra full moon day when a three-day festival was celebrated.

Though the Archaeological Survey of India has brought the temple under its purview in 1966, no action has been taken to preserve it. Talking to Express, T S M Murugan, a member of the trust, said members of the Kannagi Trust had contributed to its renovation, but the Kerala Government had been dilly-dallying and soon the structure might collapse.

The members of the trust hoisted the temple flag at Pazhiankudi on Saturday. The festival is jointly held by the Tamil Nadu and the Kerala governments. Priests from both the States perform pujas for Kannagi, known as Mangaladevi in Kerala.

The officials have banned bursting of crackers and use of drums, and plastic bags in the area.

The row

The temple has been in the possession of Kerala, as it is within the state’s political borders. But the pilgrims are from Tamil Nadu. For Tamil women, Kannagi is the epitome of chastity.
The issue began in 1971 when the Karunanidhi government decided to renovate the temple. The Tamil Nadu government claims that the temple is an integral part of Kerala, based on the maps and survey reports published in 1857 and 1916 and the Madurai district gazette published in 1934.

The upper part consists of an undulating plateau covered with dense evergreen forests. It is said that the stone for the idol was brought from the Himalayas.
Lankan ruler Gajabahu attended the consecration of the temple. The condition of the temple is pathetic. The idols are mutilated and exposed to the elements.