TamilNadu – Mother Teresa image on temple prasad packet; 2 employees suspended

Chennai. Controversy has erupted at the Arulmigu Arunachaleswara Temple in Thiruvannamalai after Mother Teresa’s image was inscribed on the prasad packet. During the Chithira Masa festival, Vibhuti was given in an envelope with a picture of Mother Teresa. The incident has sparked concerns about religious conversions and violations of Hindu traditions.
The temple management committee launched an investigation into the matter, which revealed that priests Somanathan and Muthukumarasamy distributed the Vibhuti packets without the knowledge or permission of the temple administration. As a result, the two employees have been suspended for six months by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Joint Commissioner Kumaresan.
The investigation was initiated after Hindu organizations came forward, expressing concerns that the use of Mother Teresa’s image was a move for organized religious conversion. The incident occurred during the Chithira Masa festival, when thousands of devotees gather to offer their prayers.