A viral video circulating on social media claims that a Hindu temple on Thiruparankundram Hill was converted into a Dargah because its pillars resemble those of a temple, a claim that the Tamil Nadu government’s Fact Checker has debunked as false.
“This is a hate-filled rumour,” said the fact check unit of Taminadu Government.
Fact-checking shows that the structure in the video is the Sikandhar Dargah, an original Islamic shrine built in the Dravidian architectural style, not a converted temple.
According to the book Islamic Architecture in Tamil Nadu, published by the Government of Tamil Nadu’s Director of Museum, Islamic structures in the state have historically been built using local Dravidian design elements such as temple-like pillars, beams, and cornices.
These similarities reflect shared regional craftsmanship, not the conversion of a Hindu temple into a Dargah. Numerous Islamic religious buildings across Tamil Nadu display the same architectural features.
“Because of the continuous civil wars among the members of the ruling family the Sultans who ruled Madurai could not bring much either in Islamic religion or art. However, according to Ibn Batuta, the newcomers, the Sultans, from the north adopted the local customs of the region. He also says that there was no destruction of temples and breakage of idols. (Ibn Batuta Vol.IV P. 190),” TN Fact checker wrote on X.
According to them, Sultan Alauddin was buried at Goripalayam in Madurai on the banks of the Vaigai River, where a mausoleum was constructed for him in the second quarter of the 14th century. Although it resembles a Pandya-period temple in appearance, the presence of a dome distinguishes it as an Islamic structure.
The mausoleum stands on a high adhishtanam, with the graves accessible by a flight of steps. The outer walls (kal) are decorated with pilasters in classic Pandya temple style. The koshtas on three sides, once enclosed, have since been opened to allow devotees to view the graves from outside.
The main mandapam is enclosed by a prakara on all four sides, supported by typical Dravidian-style pillars, eight on each side. The ceiling of this prakara is lined with granite slabs.
A later hall with arches was added to the front, though the supporting pillars remain granite, carved in square and hexagonal forms. Small minarets were added to the corners of this hall, likely during the 17th–18th centuries.
This architectural evidence shows that the structure was originally built as a mausoleum in Dravidian style, not as a converted temple.
Hence, the claim that a Thiruparankundram temple was converted into a Dargah is inaccurate.
This comes after several social media handles shared pictures claiming that “wielding the sword, the Mughals converted many temples into mosques, stealing others’ wealth and labour as a way of life.”
“Do not spread communal hatred! Do not believe rumours!” urged the fact checking unit.
