look news india
A surprising case has come to light in Arulmigu Kandaswamy Temple of Tamil Nadu. A devotee’s iPhone accidentally fell into the hundi (donation box) of the temple. But instead of giving it back to him, the temple administration declared the phone the property of the deity.
What is the whole matter?
Dinesh, who is a resident of Vinayakapuram, had gone to Arulmigu Kandaswamy temple with his family a month ago. After the puja, when he was trying to put money in the hundi, his precious iPhone slipped from his shirt pocket and fell into the hundi.
Due to the height of the hundi and security measures, he could not remove the phone. He sought help from the temple administration, but was told that according to tradition, whatever item falls in the hundi is considered the property of the deity.
What did Dinesh do?
Frightened Dinesh repeatedly appealed to the temple administration. He then lodged a complaint with the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department. He appealed to give information about opening the hundi and to get his phone back.
When the hundi was opened on Friday, Dinesh was present there. But the temple administration clearly said that his iPhone is now the property of the temple and will not be returned to him.
side of temple administration
Giving clarification on this matter, temple executive officer Kumaravel said,
“We cannot say whether he gave the phone intentionally as an offering or it dropped accidentally. According to tradition, whatever item falls in the Hundi is considered to be the property of the deity. It cannot be returned.”
He told that the Hundi is opened every two months and everything deposited in it comes under the control of the temple.
Permission to return SIM and data from phone
However, the temple administration allowed Dinesh to take back the SIM card present in the phone and download the data. Dinesh has got a new SIM card made and has left the further decision to the temple administration.
Controversy of tradition versus technological age
This incident gives rise to an interesting controversy between traditions and modernity. The temple administration has strictly stated that any item dropped in the Hundi will be considered the property of the deity, no matter how valuable it is.