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PALANI, INDIA, November 20, 2002 : Named Dhandayuthapani, the presiding Deity at the famous Palani Hills Temple is Lord Karthikeya. The saint physician and composer, Bogar Siddhar, is believed to have crafted the existing statue using nine highly toxic herbs over 5,000 years ago. The aging murthi has been developing cracks and for some years abhishekams have been limited to selected days in the year. The controversy over the reported attempts to replace the murthi has resurfaced with a proposal to install a 100 kg golden statue alongside the main Deity. The controversy comes after the recent row, which arose after the Archaeological Survey of India expressed an interest in taking over the Sri Arunachaleshwarar temple at Thiruvannamalai. Various organizations have questioned reports about the cracks and have threatened protests if any effort is made to replace the ancient statue. Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P. C. Ramaswamy has so far declined to respond to questions regarding the possibility of making changes in the ancient Palani Hills Temple. V. Ganapati Sthapati, India’s foremost temple architect, commented to Hinduism Today on the Palani Hills Deity several years ago, saying there are established procedures in the shastras for the replacement of aging or damaged Deities.

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