In a surprising incident at Sri Kandaswamy Temple in Thiruporur, Tamil Nadu, a devotee’s iPhone that accidentally fell into the temple’s hundial (offering box) has been declared temple property.
The devotee, identified as Dinesh, was making a donation when his iPhone inadvertently slipped into the offering box. Upon realizing the mistake, he approached the temple authorities, pleading for the device to be returned. However, the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department declined his request, citing the belief that anything deposited into the hundial, regardless of intent, becomes the property of the temple.
After the offering box was opened on Friday, the temple administration confirmed finding the iPhone and offered Dinesh the chance to retrieve data from the device. Yet, Dinesh insisted on the return of the phone itself.
When the matter reached HR & CE Minister P K Sekar Babu on Saturday, he reiterated the policy that items placed in the offering box are considered donations to the temple. “Anything deposited into the offering box, even if accidental, goes into god’s account,” the minister stated.
The minister added that he would discuss the matter with department officials to explore the possibility of compensating Dinesh and arriving at a fair resolution. The incident has sparked debate about the rigid interpretation of temple donation policies and the rights of devotees in such unusual circumstances.
