Natarajar idol: HC dismisses PIL

The Madras High Court today dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to examine the Natarajar idol at the Mangalanathaswamy shrine to find out if it was made of genuine emerald and described it as a "destructive effort" and "anti-religious".
Dismissing the plea of N Murugan, a division bench of thecourt's Madurai bench comprisingjustices V Ramasubramanian and N Kirubakaran said one could not test "every aspect of faith, in the light of science".
The petitioner could not demand a probe into traditional beliefs, the bench said.
Justice Kirubakaran said the petitioner had made a "destructive effort" by his plea to ascertain the material of the idol, which is covered with sandalwood paste all through the year except for one day.

If the idol was chiselled, for verification, then it would become unfit for worship as per Agama Shastras.
"A believer should not stoop to this level and this court

cannot encourage these kinds of vexatious litigations capable of affecting the religious sentiments and faith of people."
"The petitioner's attempt is anti-religious and he intends to damage the idol and hurt the religious beliefs of devotees and worshippers of Maragatha Natarajar," the bench said.
"The petitioner is making the prayer with a mala fide motive. If the petitioner does not believe that the idol is made up of emerald, let him not visit the temple... The petition is liable to be dismissed with costs of Rs one lakh... This court is not imposing any costs due to self-restraint," the bench said.