The controversy surrounding the replica of the Srivilliputhur temple gopuram atop M. Karunanidhi’s memorial at Marina Beach in Chennai has escalated into a fierce political and ideological face-off between the DMK and the BJP, once again exposing the deep fault lines over religion, symbolism, and Dravidian legacy in Tamil Nadu politics.
The Trigger
A picture of the Srivilliputhur temple tower replica adorning Karunanidhi’s memorial went viral, sparking outrage from BJP leaders, who accused the DMK of insulting Hindu sentiments by placing a sacred religious structure on a burial site. The move, they claimed, was both hypocritical and provocative, especially given the DMK’s long-standing rationalist and atheist identity.
BJP’s Criticism
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Narayanan Thirupathy (TN BJP Vice-President) condemned the installation, calling it “the height of arrogance and stupidity.” He insisted that a temple gopuram on a tomb desecrates Hindu beliefs, and demanded its immediate removal.
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K. Annamalai claimed it was part of a larger pattern of the DMK "hurting Hindu beliefs" under the guise of atheism.
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Nainar Nagendran said it was a direct “attack on Hindu sanctity,” citing past anti-religious rhetoric from the DMK and demanding an apology from Minister PK Sekar Babu.
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SG Suryah, too, echoed that the use of a temple tower on a samadhi was not just contradictory but disrespectful to practicing Hindus.
DMK and Allies Push Back
The DMK, in its defense, clarified that the gopuram is not a religious decoration, but a symbol drawn from the Tamil Nadu state emblem, which includes the Srivilliputhur temple tower — historically adopted in 1949 under the Congress government. The emblem was designed to reflect Tamil heritage and architecture, not to convey religious belief.
Supporters of the DMK argued:
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The memorial is state-owned, and hence, using the state emblem as decoration is within reason.
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Karunanidhi, despite being a rationalist, is revered by many for his contributions to Tamil society, and the memorial can be seen as symbolic, not religious.
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Congress leader K Selvaperuthugai defended it, saying “memorials are like temples” and for many, Karunanidhi is venerated like a deity for his social welfare legacy.
The Larger Political Context
This incident is not isolated. In April 2023, a similar replica at the same memorial had triggered criticism, with BJP leaders accusing the DMK of double standards — invoking religious practices for convenience while otherwise promoting atheism. Examples cited included bhajans and offerings of curd vadas at the tomb — gestures seen as inconsistent with the DMK’s professed ideology.
At the heart of the issue is a clash between symbolism and sentiment:
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For the BJP and aligned Hindu groups, temple architecture carries sacred meaning, and placing it on a burial site amounts to desecration.
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For the DMK and its supporters, the gopuram is a cultural artifact, part of the state's official insignia and a nod to Tamil identity — not a religious declaration.
What’s at Stake
This controversy comes amid rising political stakes in Tamil Nadu, where the BJP is trying to make inroads by championing Hindu causes, while the DMK upholds its Dravidian and rationalist legacy. The issue, therefore, is as much about electoral positioning as it is about religious versus cultural identity.
