In a significant submission before the Madras High Court, the Tamil Nadu government has stated that a stone pillar atop the Thiruparankundram hill near Madurai is a heritage structure built by Jain saints and does not belong to the Hindu community. The government's stance is based on books by archaeologists cited during the hearing.
Archaeological Evidence and Historical Context
The senior counsel for the joint commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) department presented this argument on Monday. He referenced archaeological literature to explain the pillar's origins. According to the submission, Jain followers from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh first migrated to Karnataka and later to the Madurai region.
The counsel elaborated that saints of the 'Digambara' sect used to reside on these hills. The stone pillars, including the one on Thiruparankundram, were used to light lamps when the saints gathered on the hilltops during night hours. Similar pillars exist on other hills in Madurai district, such as the Samanar hills in Keelakuyilkudi, a known ancient Jain heritage site, and at the famous Jain pilgrimage center of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka.
The Legal Dispute and Court Proceedings
The government's submission was made before a division bench comprising Justice G Jayachandran and Justice K K Ramakrishnan. The bench is hearing a batch of appeals that challenge a single judge's order. That earlier order had directed the management of the Subramaniya Swamy temple to light the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon (stone lamp post) on one of the peaks of Thiruparankundram hill, in addition to the other usual places.
During the hearing, the counsel for the Sikandar Badusha Dargah, which is also located atop the hill, presented a counter-argument. He pointed out a previous ruling by a division bench of the same court concerning animal sacrifice in the dargah's area. In that case, the court had held that the dargah must approach a civil court to establish its custom of animal sacrifice.
Arguments from the Dargah and Concerns of Discord
The dargah's counsel argued that a similar standard of proof should apply in the current case. "The plea should be proved before the civil court, as held by this court in the order pertaining to animal sacrifice," he contended. He noted that the single judge had ruled in favor of lighting the Deepam at the pillar, even though it is not conclusively established that the structure is indeed a Deepathoon.
Striking a note of caution, the dargah's senior counsel submitted that Hindus and Muslims living in the locality have historically coexisted without issues. He suggested that "a few outsiders with vested interest want to stir the pot once in a while," potentially threatening the communal harmony.
The court has continued the hearing, which is scheduled to resume on Tuesday. The outcome is being closely watched as it touches upon issues of historical interpretation, religious practice, and community relations in the ancient temple city of Madurai.
