Take immediate steps to replace damaged, missing idols in Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple: HC
The Madras High Court has ordered authorities to replace damaged or missing idols at the Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. The court emphasized that damaged idols lose their spiritual sanctity and must be replaced to restore the temple's traditional integrity.
Why it matters
This ruling highlights the intersection of legal administration and religious preservation, impacting how historic cultural sites are maintained in India.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the authorities concerned to act together and take immediate steps to replace damaged and missing idols of deities in Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur.
A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel said a broken or damaged idol should not be used for worship. This principle is established by tradition. It is held that a cracked or damaged idol has lost its consecratory holiness or steady spiritual focus. It disturbs the calm needed for prayer. The broken idol has to be respectfully immersed in a clean river or pond or buried near a sacred tree, like peepal or banyan tree.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in