Post-poll, gods stage a comeback in TN

After the Lok Sabha elections, it8217;s not just a rollback to the freebie regime in Tamil Nadu. Even the principal deity of the famed Palani temple, which was kept partially hidden from public view for the past one year, has staged a comeback.

Last year, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments HR038;CE department had ordered that a new idol made of five metals be placed before the principal deity, Lord Dandayuthapani, Subrahmanya. The official reason offered was that devotees were touching the principal deity, made of nine rare medicinal herbs navapaashanam several centuries ago, which was causing damage to it.

But the unofficial word was that the deity was hidden from public view on the advice of a Kerala astrologer to Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. The belief is that the principal deity has a healing effect.

The 8216;8216;concealing8217;8217; of the principal deity even became an election issue in the Palani parliamentary constituency this time. MDMK leader Vaiko, from the atheist school of Periyar, also religiously raised the issue at his election meetings. But with the ruling AIADMK taking a beating in the recent elections, the temple organised a ritual and removed the metal idol.