Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Tamil Nadu

Agency overview
Formed	1960
Jurisdiction	Tamil Nadu
Headquarters	Chennai
Minister responsible	P. K. Sekar Babu, Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department[1]
Agency executive	Apurva Varma IAS, [1]
Website	https://tnhrce.gov.in/hrcehome/index.php

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu manages and controls the temple administration within the state. The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act XXII of 1959 controls 36,425 temples, 56 mutts or religious orders (and 47 temples belonging to mutts), 1,721 specific endowments and 189 trusts.

History[]

In 1923, Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act was passed by Madras Presidency. In 1925, the Government constituted "The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board" consisting of a President and two to four Commissioners nominated by the Government to function as a statutory body. Subsequently, it was modified and in 1960 it became The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department by Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act XXII of 1959 which came into force with effect from 28 April 1960.^[2]

From 1991, no religious and spiritual leaders are involved in maintenance and administration of the Hindu Temples and Charitable Endowments^{[citation needed]}. However, the maintenance and administration of the Jain temples are under the administration of Jain religious and spiritual leaders.

The act controls 36,425 temples, 56 mutts or religious orders (and 47 temples belonging to mutts), 1,721 specific endowments and 189 trusts.

Schemes[]

Annadhanam Scheme is conducted in 518 Temples and 50 to 300 devotees are provided with mid day meals after Uchikala Pooja. In every year Special Rejuvenation camp for mutt and temple elephants to maintain their balanced physical and mental health.^{[clarification needed][3]} Spiritual and Moral Instruction classes were conducted in 485 temples by scholars. Various welfare schemes for temple employees and Nathaswara artists were also performed by this department.^[4] This department publishes an electronic magazine called Thiru Koil^[5] at its official website.

Temples[]

Below are the few maintained temples.

• Annamalaiyar Temple, Tiruvannamalai
• Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai
• Marudhamalai Murugan Temple, Marudhamalai
• Kallazhagar Temple, Alagar Koyil
• Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Tiruchengode
• Koodal Azhagar Temple, Madurai
• Sangameswarar Temple, Bhavani
• Sattainathar Temple, Sirkazhi
• Vedapureeswarar Temple, Thiruverkadu
• Devi Karumariamman Temple, Thiruverkadu
• Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram
• Punnainallur Maariamman Temple, Thanjavur
• Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur
• Anjaneyar Temple, Namakkal
• Solaimalai Murugan Temple, Pazhamudircholai
• Palani Murugan Temple, Palani
• Uppiliappan Temple, Kumbakonam
• Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram
• Natarajar Temple, Chidambaram
• Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli
• Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Chennai
• Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai
• Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam
• Vadapalani Andavar Temple, Chennai
• Marundeeswarar Temple, Chennai
• Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur
• Kamakshi Amman Temple, Mangadu
• Srivilliputhur Andal Temple, Srivilliputhur
• Yoga Narasimhar Temple, Sholinghur
• Karpaka Vinayakar Temple, Pillayarpatti
• Ranganathaswamy Temple, Karamadai, Coimbatore
• Swaminatha Swamy Temple, Swamimalai
• Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
• Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur
• Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruttani
• Jalakandeswarar Temple, Vellore
• Baghavathiamman Temple, Kanyakumari
• Thanumalayaswamy Temple, Suchindrum
• Thayumanaswami Temple, Tiruchirapalli
• Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Tiruchirapalli
• Maariamman Temple, Samayapuram
• Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
• Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval
• Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram
• Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram
• Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
• Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram
• Kumarakootam Temple, Kanchipuram
• Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
• Adikesava Perumal Temple, Sriperumpudur
• Vallakottai Subramaniyaswami Temple, Vallakottai
• Masilamaniswara Temple, Thirumullaivoyal

References[]