Early references to the usage of ‘Sikkandar Malai’ by the Mohamedans in Madurai

Recent accusations of Muslims renaming Tirupparankundram hills as 'Sikkandar Malai' spark controversy in Tamil Nadu.

In recent weeks, certain Hindu outfits and some BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu have accused sections of Muslims of attempting to rename the Tirupparankundram hills as ‘Sikkandar Malai’. The remarks were made against the backdrop of some Muslims making such oral references to the hill in Madurai that houses temples, including the first of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya Swamy, as well as the Sulthan Sikkandar Avulia Dargah or Sikkandar Mosque.

However, for decades during normal conversations or discourse, Muslims have been referring to Tirupparankundram as ‘Sikkandar Malai’, while the Hindus call it ‘Kandar Malai’, ‘Murugan Malai’ or ‘Skandar Malai’.

As early as in June 1938, a reader of The Hindu, T. Sivasankaran, from Penukonda in the present day Andhra Pradesh, had written about the Muslims’ usage of ‘Sikkandar Malai’ in a Letters to the Editor column. Published under the title ‘Hindu-Moslem Tolerance’, Sivasankaran mentions in his letter that he had asked his friend A. Kondappa, president of the Hindu Religious Board, to collect instances of communal harmony and share them with him.

Based on Kondappa’s communication, Sivasankaran wrote about Tirupparankundram thus: “This sacred place is situated four miles south of Madura. The Mohamedans claim that the name is properly ‘Sikkandar Malai’, after a Fakir called ‘Sikkandar’ who is buried at the top of the hill. The place was formerly an outpost of Madura and figures in several of its wars, but today it is famous for its temple dedicated to God Subramanya.”

Incidentally, these very words, with minor variations, were mentioned (without attribution), in an article titled ‘In and Around Madurai’, written by one S. Natarajan, in the October 1961 edition of Madras Information, a journal published by the Tamil Nadu Director of Information and Publicity.

Sivasankaran had also marvelled: “Here is a curious instance of Hinduism and Islam living side by side on terms of great intimacy and mutual tolerance, for nowhere else in India are we likely to find a Hindu temple and a Mahomedan mosque in such close proximity. Many devout Hindus actually worship the saint Sikkandar and the pious Muslim may be seen offering his homage to the Hindu deity. This is characteristic of the broad spirit of religious tolerance, for which Madura has always been justly famous. In the while history of the town, there has never been a clash between the two religions and this may well be claimed as a unique record.”

The letter writer was drawn into the subject based on instances of religious harmony in his native Anantapur district where in Kadiri town the Narasimhaswami temple and a mosque existed in close proximity to each other. “About the time of ‘Mohurrum’ (Muharram), it is a long standing custom with the temple committee authorities to tender to the mosque a quantity of ‘chunam’ (limestone) and brushes for the purpose of white-washing the mosque accompanied with a little money supposed to cover cost of labour. The mosque authorities also have been returning the etiquette all along by supplying annually ‘chunam’ and other articles necessary to whitewash the temple,” he wrote.