A devotee of Lord Murugan died by self-immolation in Madurai on Thursday, reportedly over the Tamil Nadu government’s refusal to allow Hindus to light the Karthigai Deepam lamp at Thirupparankundram hill. The victim, identified as Poorna Chandran, approximately 40 years old and a resident of the Narimedu area, set himself on fire near the Periyar statue. He succumbed to severe burn injuries shortly after.
According to reports, Poorna Chandran left a voice message to a friend, later shared with his family, expressing his intent to end his life in protest against the DML government’s refusal to permit lighting the sacred lamp at the traditional “Deepathoon” atop the hill. In the message, he referenced Periyar’s atheistic views and hoped his act would enable the ritual next year.
His brother Ramadurai confirmed the message to the media, stating that Poorna Chandran, a regular visitor to sacred sites like Sathuragiri, had not indicated such extreme intentions. He is survived by his wife and two young children. He said that Poorna left home in the morning for work. The family received a call in the evening informing them that he had set himself ablaze.
“He had sent a voice message to his friend who sent it to me and I got to know only after that. He apparently told that he is going to self-immolate for not letting Deepam to be lit at Thirupparankundram,” the brother said.
BJP Tamil Nadu President Nainar Nagenthiran slammed the DMK government over the incident, saying that Poorna Chandran ended his life by self-immolation as he was “deeply anguished by the DMK Government’s anti-Hindu stance, particularly its refusal to allow devotees to light the sacred Karthigai Deepam on the Deepa Thoon atop the Thiruparangundram Hill.” He appealed to the devotees to remain calm and exercise patience, and not to take such extreme steps.
Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai is one of the six sacred abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan, hosting the ancient Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple at its base. The hilltop also features the Sikandar Badushah Dargah, a Muslim shrine.
Hindu devotees and petitioners have argued that the Karthigai Deepam should be lit at the ancient Deepathoon pillar near the dargah as a historical tradition. On December 1, 2025, Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench ordered the temple administration, under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, to light the lamp there in addition to usual spots.
However, the DMK government in the state didn’t allow it despite the court order, and used force to prevent Hindus from reaching the site. Authorities lit the lamp only at the Uchipillaiyar Temple mandapam, citing longstanding practice, potential law-and-order issues, and claims that the pillar is a Jain-era structure (Samana Deepathoon) unrelated to the festival, not a traditional Hindu lamp site.
The government appealed against the court order at the Madras High Court, and in today’s hearing, the govt counsel strongly argued against allowing Hindus to light the sacred lamp.
