Temple Suspends 2 Archakas for Distributing ‘Vibhuti’ Packets with Mother Teresa Image

The incident of distributing “vibhuti”, or holy ashes, packets featuring the image of Mother Teresa at the Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, sparked controversy and led to the suspension of two arkashas on May 2. Joint Commissioner Kumaresan ordered the suspension of the archakas for six months, citing their actions as disreputable to the temple and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department.

Archakas Somanathan and Muthukumarasamy reportedly distributed the ‘vibhuti’ bundles without the knowledge or permission of the temple administration. During the festive month of Chithirai (mid-April to mid-May), the famous Annamalaiyar Temple attracts thousands of devotees from all over the state. The sources said that the well-known clothing manufacturer Matthew Garments sent to the temple the controversial “Vibhotei” packages, which bore the image of Mother Teresa on one side and the company’s logo on the other, which sparked a wave of anger.

Upon learning of the incident, the Hindu leaders of the Maunani demanded swift and severe punishment for those responsible, claiming that it was an attempted conversion. Kumaresan subsequently conducted an investigation and suspended the two fights for six months, forbidding them to enter the temple or perform any rituals during this period. An anonymous employee explained, “They distributed ‘vibhuti’ packages, which were given in good faith. But Teresa’s picture on the cover—not the distribution—was the problem. Many other companies offer the same service, but their packages won’t include any images.”

It is customary for donors to fund or sponsor Vibhuti bundles to be distributed to visitors to the temple.

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