Obituary: Bangaru Adigalar, who made women devotees the poojaris of his temples, passes away

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence message, said that he was deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Bangaru Adigalar.

Deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Bangaru Adigalar Ji. His life, rich in spirituality and compassion, will forever be a guiding light for many. Through his tireless service to humanity and emphasis on education, he sowed the seeds of hope and knowledge in the lives of many.… pic.twitter.com/J42xo42Kxc

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 19, 2023

“His life, rich in spirituality and compassion, will forever be a guiding light for many. Through his tireless service to humanity and emphasis on education, he sowed the seeds of hope and knowledge in the lives of many. His work will continue to inspire and guide generations. Condolences to his family and admirers,” the Prime Minister said.

Chief Minister MK Stalin, in his condolence message, said Adigalar revolutionised spiritualism for a social cause and ensured prominence to women by allowing them to worship and conduct poojas inside the sanctum sanctorum.

The chief minister also announced state honours for the spiritual leader’s funeral, to pay tributes to his services.

On Friday, Chief Minister Stalin, with his senior counsel of ministers, including Durai Murugan and KN Nehru, paid their last respects to the spiritual guru.

"மேல்மருவத்தூர் ஆதிபராசக்தி பீடத்தின் நிறுவனர் திரு. பங்காரு அடிகளார் அவர்கள் மறைவெய்தினார் என்ற செய்தியறிந்து மிகவும் வருந்தினேன்.

திரு. பங்காரு அடிகளார் அவர்களின் சேவைகளைப் போற்றும் வகையில், அரசு மரியாதையுடன் அவரது இறுதி நிகழ்வு நடைபெறும்" என மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin… pic.twitter.com/AQPJbfazYD

— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) October 19, 2023

Recalling his visit to Melmaruvathur in December 2021 to launch “Nammai Kakkum 48” and his meeting with Bangaru Adigalar, Stalin stated that his death was a huge loss to his followers.

Also read: 3 women complete ‘archakas’ training in Tamil Nadu

Governor RN Ravi pays his last respects to Adigalar. (Supplied)

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan visited Melmaruvathur and paid their respects, too.

In his condolence message, Ravi said, “A highly evolved soul and great spiritual teacher. His contributions to education, healthcare, and social reforms will continue inspiring us. My heartfelt condolences to his family and followers.”

Several political leaders of the state, including AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, O Panneerselvam, PMK founder Dr Ramadoss, NTK Chief Seeman, and others also visited Melmaruvathur and participated in Adigalar’s funeral.

Where women enter the sanctum sanctorum

Hailing from an OBC community, Adigalar started his career as a teacher and, later, in the 1960s, he took the avatar of a spiritual guru, spelling predictions to the devotees.

Later, in a small, thatched cottage in Melmaruvathur, Adigalar started the Parasakthi temple in Melmaruvathur.

Speaking to South First, K Ponvannan, a long-time devotee of Adigalar, said that in the early 1970s, Adigalar became famous because of his exact predictions and people thronged Melmaruvathur from every nook and corner of the state.

“Adigalar then left his teaching job and started living in the temple. The devotees who visited Adigalar would pay ₹2 as an offering for his predictions and darshan. He was always fond of Parasakthi and saw every woman as Goddesses Parasakthi. He then declared himself as ‘Amma’,” Ponvannan said.

“He was particular that every woman should be given the right to conduct poojas in the sanctum sanctorum of all communities, right from his early days,” Ponvannan said.

Adigalar was inclusive of the backward communities, who were refused pooja performing rights, and was particular about making women devotees as the poojaris in the worship places/temples established under the Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Vaara Vazhipaatu Mandram.

Also read: Mother-daughter duo make a mark as priests in male-dominated space

Empowering women is real spiritualism

Over time, the practice of women conducting poojas gained popularity in the state and branches of the Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Mandram were established, almost in every village.

T Suguna, an organiser of the Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Mandram in Cuddalore said that “Amma” never wanted any living creature to sleep hungry.

“He always believed that empowering women is real spiritualism. If you go to Melmaruvathur, you will find food being offered to the devotees around-the-clock. He treated everyone the same. There was no partiality shown to anyone. He loved all and was loved by all,” the devotee said.

She further added that Adigalar made the small town of Melmaruvathur world famous. Devotees of Adigalar wear red clothes — the men wear red dhotis and the women wear red sarees.

In 1986, the then-president of India, Giani Zail Singh, participated in the yagna by Bangaru Adigalar on the Marina Beach in Chennai. Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi prayed at the Melmaruvathur temple in 1989.

In the late 1990s, Adigalar started schools and medical colleges in Melmaruvathur under the Adhiparasakthi Charitable Medical Educational and Cultural Trust, which he established.

In 2019, he was awarded the Padma Shri for his service to humanity.