To honour superstar Rajinikanth, a statue of him was unveiled at the Arulmigu Sri Rajini Temple, Thirumangalam, Madurai, ahead of his birthday on December 12. The 3-foot tall and 300-kg statue has been inspired by his iconic character from his 2011 release Mappillai, which was a big blockbuster.
Though it was a way to celebrate Rajinikanth’s legacy, things took a turn after fans started to treat it like a God’s Idol and began to serve milk, as an act of worship. Videos from the temple, showcasing the unusual devotion, have gone viral, with many netizens condemning the fans’ behavior. The incident has raised eyebrows, with many questioning the blurred lines between fandom and worship.
One person took to the comment section and wrote, “Idiots. That’s why Hindus are becoming weaker day by day due to these people. On one side Bangladeshi Hindus are facing genocide and on other side people like these who downgrades our religion.” Another commented, “Such dumb level stupidity can only happen in TamilNadu and perhaps Andhra/Telengana too. Can’t believe we have such people who idol worship these filmy idiots.”
Watch the video:
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu | Ahead of his 74th birthday on Thursday, December 12, a new statue of Actor Rajinikanth has been unveiled at the "Arulmigu Sri Rajini Temple" in Thirumangalam, Madurai.
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2024
The statue depicts Rajinikanth's iconic character from the movie 'Mappillai', honouring… pic.twitter.com/cVgTAlHenK
About The Temple
For the unversed, the temple was founded by Karthik, a retired Army officer and ardent Rajinikanth fan. As a tribute to his idol, Karthik dedicated a sacred space where fellow admirers could gather to pay homage to the superstar. Since its inception, the temple has been a hub of daily prayers and special ceremonies in honor of Rajinikanth.
To commemorate this milestone birthday, the temple has organised special rituals and prayers, further solidifying its reputation as a beacon of devotion to the beloved actor. This unique temple stands as a testament to Rajinikanth’s profound and lasting impact on his fans, inspiring unwavering loyalty and reverence.
While speaking to ANI, Karthik shared his excitement about unveilng of the statue and said, “To commemorate Rajinikanth’s 74th birthday, a new 3-foot tall, 300 kg statue of the superstar has been unveiled. Last year, in October, a statue of Rajinikanth was installed and worshipped. Now, a new statue has been created.”
Sharing detauls about the celebrations at the temple, he added, “Today, special abhishekam rituals were performed for the new statue. A few months ago, Rajinikanth’s PRO contacted us to inquire about the temple. We are now waiting for an invitation from Rajinikanth to visit him and receive his blessings. Happy Birthday, Thalaiva!”
