Ilayaraja responds to rumours of insult at Andal temple
Amid allegations that music legend Ilayaraja was insulted at the Andal temple in Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department clarified the situation on Monday. According to the HR & CE, only Jeeyars, priests, and temple staff are allowed inside the “Artha Mandapam,” an area adjacent to the sanctum sanctorum. Ilayaraja was reportedly stopped from entering the mandapam, leading to a misunderstanding.
An official statement from the HR & CE addressed the controversy, with Madurai HR & CE Joint Commissioner K Chelladurai explaining that the temple’s customs restrict access to the Artha Mandapam. Ilayaraja had accompanied a Jeeyar to the mandapam, and while he attempted to step inside, temple authorities stopped him and politely explained the temple protocol. Ilayaraja, according to the release, worshipped from the entrance of the Artha Mandapam, and only the Jeeyar entered to offer prayers.
Rumours quickly spread suggesting that Ilayaraja had been insulted and had “lost his self-respect.” In response, the music maestro took to social media platform X, urging his fans not to believe the rumours. He said, “Some are spreading rumours about me. I am not a person to compromise on my self-respect anytime, anywhere. They are spreading news that did not happen. Fans and people should not believe these rumours.”
This incident follows a previous controversy involving lyricist Vairamuthu in 2018, who faced backlash for calling Andal a “Devadasi,” a remark he later apologized for.
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