Fri Jul 18 17:06:41 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A public interest litigation petition has been filed with the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, seeking the restoration of the Dhyana Mandapam (meditation hall) in the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai. The petitioner alleges that the hall, originally designed for meditation and fostering inner peace, is currently being used as a storage space for temple goods, preventing devotees from using it for its intended purpose. The petitioner argues this is against Vedic principles and has requested the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to restore the hall and allow devotees to meditate there.

**News Article:**

**Madurai Court Hears Plea to Restore Meditation Hall in Meenakshi Temple**

*MADURAI, July 18, 2025* – The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court is considering a public interest litigation petition demanding the restoration of the Dhyana Mandapam, a meditation hall within the famed Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai.

The petition, filed by V. Karuppu, alleges that the hall, which was originally designed to provide a space for quiet contemplation and connection with the divine, has been repurposed as a storage area for wooden logs, iron bars, and other temple materials. As a result, devotees are reportedly being prevented from meditating in the hall.

Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete presided over the initial hearing. The petitioner argued that utilizing the Dhyana Mandapam as a storehouse and barring devotees from meditation violates the Vedic principles upon which the temple was designed and built.

“The authorities have prevented the devotees and the public from meditating in this hall,” the petition states. “To use the meditation hall as a store house… was totally against the Vedic principles.”

Karuppu claims that despite his attempts to communicate with authorities and request the hall’s restoration, no action has been taken. The petition seeks a directive to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to restore the Dhyana Mandapam to its original condition and reopen it for devotees.

The court has sought a response from the relevant authorities regarding the matter. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the preservation of traditional spaces and their intended purposes within religious sites.

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