Dr. Buragadda Srinath
Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu remain shackled under government control—micromanaged by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, stripped of autonomy, and systematically drained of their resources. While temple revenues rise steadily year after year, the basic infrastructure surrounding these sacred spaces languishes. Devotees stand in long queues under the scorching sun, sanitation is poor, and temple heritage continues to deteriorate. Meanwhile, temple funds are siphoned off under the guise of “administrative expenses” or brazenly diverted to unrelated state projects.
This is not governance—it’s exploitation.
And the blame lies squarely with Tamil Nadu’s political establishment. For decades, especially under DMK rule, temples have been treated as political cash cows rather than revered religious institutions. Rituals have been altered. Priests have been appointed without regard for traditional norms. Festivals have been sidelined. All of this has occurred while churches and mosques remain free from government interference, enjoying full autonomy.
The Wealth of Temples, The Poverty of Management
Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu collectively own around 4.78 lakh acres of land. They also hold approximately 22,600 buildings, including shops, marriage halls, and commercial complexes. Yet much of this wealth remains underutilized or encroached upon. The HR&CE Department itself admitted recovering temple properties worth ₹5,700 crore from encroachers—a mere fraction of the total estimated loss.
Despite such vast assets, temple revenues are grossly mismanaged. The number of temples earning between ₹10 lakh and ₹10 crore annually grew from 316 to 578 in recent years. Yet, between July 2022 and March 2023, the total rent collected from temple properties was only ₹117.63 crore, exposing large-scale inefficiency and leakage. Annual revenue losses are estimated at ₹5,900 crore.
Why is only the Hindu faith subject to this kind of state interference? Why are temples, funded by the faith and offerings of devotees, treated as extensions of the government treasury?
Temple Autonomy Must Be a 2026 Election Litmus Test
This issue cannot be brushed aside. It must be placed front and center in Tamil Nadu’s 2026 election discourse. Here’s what needs to happen:
- Every major political party must be publicly pressured to include temple autonomy in their manifestos—not vague assurances, but detailed, written commitments to transfer control to independent, community-led, transparent temple boards.
- Hindu voters must treat this as a decisive electoral issue.
- Community leaders, mutts, and Hindu organizations must unite on this single-point agenda. Religious freedom is not negotiable. Cultural heritage is not for sale.
- Mass awareness campaigns—online and on the ground—must begin now. Every temple town, every pilgrimage route, and every devotee must hear the message loud and clear: Enough is enough.
The state has no right to run temples like revenue offices. Devotees don’t donate to line bureaucrats’ pockets or bankroll government schemes. They give out of faith. That faith must be respected—and restored.
Temple autonomy must become the litmus test for every party in the next Tamil Nadu election. No more delays. No more betrayal. This is the line in the sand.
Legal Framework: A Bias Written into Law
The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act of 1959 gives the state sweeping powers over Hindu temples. The government appoints key officials—including the Commissioner, Joint Commissioners, and Assistant Commissioners—who in turn control the appointment of temple trustees and financial decisions. This level of control is exclusive to Hindu institutions. Churches and mosques in Tamil Nadu enjoy far greater autonomy.
Revenues Rise, Yet Temples Crumble
Temples like Palani Murugan, Madurai Meenakshi, and Rameswaram generate hundreds of crores in revenue. HR&CE’s reports confirm record income growth in 2022. And yet, this prosperity doesn’t translate into better conditions for devotees.
Basic amenities—clean toilets, safe drinking water, shaded queues, and accessible roads—are glaringly absent. At Srirangam, one of the world’s largest functioning temples, narrow approach roads, chaotic parking, and poor facilities for the elderly and disabled are a daily reality. The same neglect is visible at Chidambaram, Kanchipuram, and other historic temples.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the HR&CE Department sent circulars to 47 temples, “requesting” contributions to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Although termed voluntary, the circular specified amounts to be contributed, raising serious questions about coercion. Moreover, the department routinely deducts 2% to 8% of temple income as administrative and auditing fees, amounting to ₹50 crore to ₹80 crore annually.
The DMK’s Anti-Hindu Bias Is Clear
The DMK’s approach to Hindu institutions is shaped not by secularism, but by an ideological hostility. While it champions religious independence for minorities, it tightens its grip on temples. Why this double standard?
A Call to Reclaim Sacred Spaces
Hindu temples are not state assets. They are sacred institutions, built and sustained by centuries of devotion. They deserve to be governed by those who revere them, not by indifferent bureaucrats.
The demand is simple: Return administrative control to independent, community-run boards with legal accountability and a clear mandate to reinvest in infrastructure, heritage conservation, and cultural revival.
If Tamil Nadu’s political parties want the Hindu vote, they must respect Hindu temples. Autonomy isn’t a luxury—it’s a constitutional and civilizational imperative.
