Music maestro and Rajya Sabha MP Ilaiyaraaja was allegedly stopped from entering the sanctum sanctorum of Srivilliputhur Aandal temple in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar on the evening of Sunday, December 15. In videos circulating on social media, Ilaiyaraaja can be seen entering the sanctum sanctorum, where the deity is kept, before purportedly being asked to step out by one of the temple priests. The videos triggered public outrage, with many alleging that the musician was discriminated against based on his caste.
Ilaiyaraaja had arrived at the temple to seek blessings ahead of the release of his latest composition ‘Divya Pasuram’. In one of the viral videos, the renowned composer can be seen being escorted towards the sanctum sanctorum by the police, while engaged in conversations with the temple’s head priests. As he follows the priests into the sacred chamber, one of them turns around to speak to Ilaiyaraaja, after which the musician quickly steps out. He is later garlanded at the doorstep of the chamber.
Meanwhile, sources at the Srivilluputhur temple said it was routine not to allow devotees to enter the sacred chamber. “Ilaiyaraaja stood on the Kulasekara step to see the idol. The crowd pushed him inside. No devotee is allowed inside this area, hence we asked him to step outside,” they said.
District Collector Dr VP Jeyaseelan IAS told TNM that he has sought a report from the Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.