Gowtham K
In the temple town of Lord Shiva, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, a priest identified as Manikandan on August 23 allegedly attempted to sexually assault an American woman, who had come to the town for a spiritual tour. He was beaten by the woman and handed over by local residents to the police.
In the spiritual land of Thiruvannamalai, it is traditional for people to stay for months and visit Sri Annamalaiyar (Shiv ji) temple. Apart from this, there are various Ashrams where devotees from abroad come and stay. Moreover, they walk on “Girivalam” (spiritual walk) on full-moon days barefoot round the temple receiving blessings from the thousands of preachers on the path to the gorge.
According to media reports, a 32-year-old woman named Asiali from the United States of America had rented an apartment in Arunachaleshwarar Nagar, Thiruvannamalai for the past 8 months. Similarly, Manikandan, 34, of Thirumalaipatti village in Namakkal district Tamil Nadu was one of the preachers in Girvalapathai (spiritual path). As he wanders around the gorge, he peeped at Asiali living in an apartment in Arunachaleshwarar nagar.
Manikandan had been monitoring Asiali for the last 1 month. It is in this context that Manikandan, who came to know that Asiali was alone this morning, went home and tried to commit sexual assault. The priest was severely beaten in a defensive attempt by Asiali at the time and severely injured. However, the priest made counter attempts to assault her. But, as Asiali shouted for help the people in the neighborhood rushed towards the apartment and surrounded the priest. Following this, Samiyar Manikandan was given a ‘big blow’ and handed over to the Thiruvannamalai Rural Police Station. Asiali, who sustained a head injury in the incident, has been admitted to the Thiruvannamalai Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Since, the capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai which was earlier rated as one of the safer places for women to live in, such act of sexual assault by the priest in temple town of Thiruvannamalai, and similar incidents which had paved the way for silent raise in crime against women especially on foreign nationals.
On other hand the controversial Baba who tagged him selves as the “GodMan”, Swami Nithyananda who recently claimed that he had formed his own country named Kailasa also belonged to Thiruvannamalai. Swami Nithyananda decades ago was caught in a sexual activities with some of his devotees especially former Tamil actress Ranjitha which sparked controversy as well. Such a raise of claimed GodMen and priests around Thiruvannamalai town who are the extreme addicts of Cannabis and alcohol must be investigated with reference to their activities and from where they get drugs which leads to sexual assaults of innocent pilgrims.
Neither Google nor ANY INDIAN MEDIA will report this story – for obvious reasons!
Why is this not reported in INDIAN MEDIA ?
He is not a priest .They are so many fellows roaming in that town and this fellow is one of them .He was not any priest of any organised mutt or temple .In Tamilnadu papers this news was published and no one claimed him as priest .The writer of this article never bothered to verify facts
The literal meaning of Saamiyar in Tamil is Priest or preacher in English.. Hence proved. If they are roadside guys ask your Sarkar to arrest all those weed smoking saamiyars..
These immoral priests with no moral foundation
should be the biggest concern for Hindu religion and hindutva society.
These hindu temples attract huge foreign tourists who travel to India for their spiritual growth and advancement,but unfortunately they have to forgo their honor and physical dignity, which is too high a cost for attaining any spiritual development.
Morally India has weakened due to lawlessness,a faithless system and Godless society,these so called godmen are infact conmen who have tormented our reliance on hindu society.
They should visit Madrasa ; where science , technology and tolerance is preached to students……….
Anonymous aka hindu gutter rat,
Yes madrassas teach about religion, science, technology, tolerace..but also basic hygiene unlike your sh1t shaped hindu mandirs and gau shallas where ignorance, filth, rape, hatred, intolerance and other great superstitious facets of hinduism are taught.
Muslims made India great. Hindus turned it into a 3rd world sh1thole.
Khajuraho Mandirs ( perverted anal porn sex temples of Hinduism in Central province of lndia ) and Devdasi Mandirs ( religious prostitution inside the premises of Hindu temples in South lndia ) are traditionally approved spiritual sexuality of ancient Hinduism ( Santan Dharm ).
Just another day in the worlds most dangerous country for women…India will never progress as long as Hinduism is the majority religion.