In a dramatic gesture of devotion and disappointment, a 65-year-old retired army veteran from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district donated property worth ₹4 crore to a local temple, citing neglect by his daughters amid family disputes over inheritance.
S Vijayan, a resident of Kesavapuram village near Arani town, recently visited the Arulmigu Renugambal Amman Temple and placed property documents worth ₹3 crore and ₹1 crore into a donation box inside the sanctum sanctorum. Temple officials, conducting their routine inspection of the temple’s 11 donation boxes, were stunned to discover the original documents tucked among the usual offerings of coins and cash. A handwritten note accompanied the papers.
M Silambarasan, Executive Officer of the temple, told The Hindu that while the act was unprecedented, placing documents in a donation box does not constitute a legal transfer. For the donation to be valid, it must be officially registered through the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department.
Vijayan has since confirmed he intends to complete the formalities. “I will legally register the property in the temple’s name. I have no intention of reversing my decision. My own children humiliated me when I needed their support,” he said.
Temple officials revealed that Vijayan has been a devout follower of the deity for decades. Estranged from his wife and living in solitude for nearly 10 years, he reportedly faced pressure from his daughters to transfer property to them — a situation that ultimately led to his bold act of renunciation.