Thousands Of Hindus Have Gathered In Thiruparankundram To Protest After Muslim Group Started Animal Sacrifice On Sacred Place

Thousands of Hindus from over 50 organisations gathered in the sacred city of Madurai (Tamil Nadu, India) to stop a Hindu pilgrimage spot, Thiruparankundram‎, from being encroached on the protest, which occurred in February 2025, took place after Muslim groups began performing animal sacrifices at the Sikandar Badusha Dargah (Muslim shrine), which is also located on the hill. Hindu protesters also report how Islamist groups are making attempts to claim complete ownership of the area by renaming it Sikandar Hill.

Thiruparankundram is home to one of the 6 preeminent temples of Murugan (Skanda-Kartikeya) located across the state. The current temple dates back to the 7th century CE, though it finds a mention in the Tamil devotional text, Tirumurukarruppatai, which dates to the 2nd-4th century CE. 1000 years later, the last ruler of the Madurai Sultanate, Sikandar Shah, attempted to invade Southern Bharat. In 1377, Sikandar was overthrown and killed by the Vijayanagara rulers, who re-established Hindu control over the region. Some Islamists claim that the hill is the burial site of Sikandar Shah, though evidence suggests he was buried in the Goripalayam area of Madurai.

Attempts to Islamise the hill were made during the colonial era. In 1923 a British court ruled in favour of the Hindu claim over the hill, allowing Muslims restricted ownership of the plot occupied by the burial site. During the 20th century, fake narratives were created that Sikandar was a friend of Murugan. In reality, Sikandar’s rule was marked by violent persecution of Hindus and desecration of some of the most revered Hindu temples in the South.