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Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department

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Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE Department) is a department under the Government of Tamil Nadu, India, that handles the administration of temples in the state. Formed under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act XXII of 1959, the department administers 46,331 properties, including 43,800 Hindu temples, 22 Jain temples, 45 mutts, 69 temples attached to mutts, 1,262 charitable endowments, and 1,133 special endowments.

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department
Agency overview
Formed1960
JurisdictionTamil Nadu
HeadquartersChennai
Minister responsible
  • S. Ramesh, Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department[1]
Agency executives
Websitehrce.tn.gov.in/hrcehome/index.php

History

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In 1923, the Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act was passed by Madras Presidency. In 1925, the Government constituted "The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board" consisting of a president and two to four commissioners nominated by the government to function as a statutory body. Subsequently, it was modified and in 1960 it became The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department by Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act XXII of 1959 which came into force with effect from 28 April 1960, with C. P. Ramaswami Iyer serving as chairman.[2]

Since 1991, religious and spiritual leaders have been involved in the maintenance and administration of the Hindu temples and charitable endowments.[citation needed] However, the maintenance and administration of the Jain temples are under the administration of Jain religious and spiritual leaders.

The act controls 36,425 temples, 56 mathas or religious orders (and 47 temples belonging to mathas), 1,721 specific endowments and 189 trusts.

The department's inception saw numerous companies managing their Public Relations (PR) and Social Media Management. Currently, the responsibility is entrusted to the Chennai-based branding firm, 7 miles per second, overseeing PR and Social Media Management operations.[3]

Schemes

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Annadhanam Scheme is conducted in 746 Temples and 50 to 300 devotees are provided with mid-day meals after Uchikala Pooja. Every year Special Rejuvenation camp is held for elephants from temples and mutts across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In 2020-2021, the 48-day long camp was held at Thekampatti on the banks of River Bhavani.[4] Spiritual and Moral Instruction classes were conducted in 485 temples by scholars. Various welfare schemes for temple employees and Nathaswara artists were also performed by this department.[5] This department publishes an electronic magazine called Thiru Koil[6] at its official website.

Temples

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Below are a few temples maintained by the department.[7]

Ministers

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Ministers of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (post-independence era)
Name Portrait Term of office
K. Venkataswamy Naidu 10 April 1952 3 February 1954
B. Parameswaran 13 April 1954 13 April 1957
M. Bhaktavatsalam 14 April 1957 5 March 1967
V. R. Nedunchezhiyan 6 March 1967 3 February 1969
K. V. Subbiah 10 February 1969 14 March 1971
M. Kannappan 15 March 1971 31 January 1976
R. M. Veerappan 30 June 1977 9 February 1985
V. V. Swaminathan 7 January 1988 30 January 1998
K. P. Kandasamy 27 January 1989 30 January 1991
M. Ammamuthu Pillai 24 June 1991 12 May 1996
Pulavar Senguttuvan 13 May 1996 13 May 2001
P.C. Ramasamy 14 May 2001 12 May 2006
K. R. Periyakaruppan 13 May 2006 21 May 2011
M. S. M. Anandan 16 May 2011 27 September 2014
P. Chendur Pandian 28 September 2014 25 January 2015
R. Kamaraj 26 January 2015 22 May 2016
Sevvoor S. Ramachandran 23 May 2016 7 May 2021
P. K. Sekar Babu 7 May 2021 5 May 2026
S. Ramesh 21 May 2026 Incumbent

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "அறநிலையத்துறை". Government of Tamil Nadu – Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959
  3. ↑ "How to tell compelling stories and weave engaging narratives". Edex Live. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  4. ↑ Palaniappan, V. S. (19 December 2013). "Elephant rejuvenation camp begins at Thekampatti". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "Schemes". Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Thiru Koil magazine
  7. ↑ "List of Temples". Government of Tamil Nadu – Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
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