Officials of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department inspect the deepathoon on top of the Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai. File photo: Special arrangements
What is gravy for the goose is gravy for the hams. As restrictions on animal sacrifices in Thirupparankundram must continue until the matter is resolved by a competent civil court, the same should apply to the petitioners seeking to set fire to the deepathoon (stone pillar), argued counsel for the appellants before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday (Dec 15, 2025). It has also been submitted that the pillar was founded by Jains.
A division bench of Justices G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan continued to hear arguments preferred against Justice GR Swaminathan’s order directing the Subramaniya Swamy temple management to light the Karthigai Deepam at the deepathoon in addition to the usual places and other related challenges.
Senior advocate T. Mohan, representing Sikandar Badusha Dargah, said that when they were directed to go to the civil court to introduce the custom (of animal sacrifice), the petitioners must do the same to introduce the custom of lighting deepam on the deepathoon. However, the single bench allowed the petition and allowed the petitioners to light the lamp on the deepathoon even though it was not proved that the stone pillar was used for the purpose.
The Senior Advocate said that they could not use part of the land as per the judgment in the original suit of 1920.
They could not set up toilets and electricity connections and drinking water facilities could not be provided, the senior counsel said, adding that they were not given a proper opportunity to present their case to the Single Bench.
Senior advocate N. Jothi, appearing for the joint commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, said there were books written by experts dealing with the stone pillars. The stone pillar on Thirupparankundram hill was established by Jains and did not belong to Hindus. There were similar pillars in Madurai district, including one at Samanar Hills near Keelakuyilkudi and another at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, he said.
The Digambaras (one of the ascetic sects of Jainism) who came from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh to Madurai lived in the Thirupparankundram hills. They used the stone pillar to light their lamps because they gathered at night. This was not the place where the Karthigai Deepam was lit. Karthigai Deepam was lit in Uchipillaiyar temple mandapam and there was mention of it. Any attempt to transform the nature of the stone pillar should not be allowed, it was submitted.
The counselors further said that Thirupparankundram was a confluence of people and they lived peacefully. It was reiterated that the Karthigai Deepam was lit only in the Uchipillaiyar temple mandapam, as per the expert opinion of the temple priests. The court will continue hearing the appeal on Tuesday (December 16, 2025).
Published – 15 Dec 2025 22:11 IST
