PM Modi to Share Stage with 25 Shaivite Mutt Heads at Chola Legacy Event in Tamil Nadu

In a significant cultural and political outreach, around 25 Shaivite mutt heads from Tamil Nadu are set to share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27 at the historic Brihadisvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Deccan Herald reported.

The Prime Minister will be releasing of a commemorative coin honouring Rajendra Chola, marking the 1,000th anniversary of his conquest of the Gangetic Plains.

This event echoes a similar gathering from 2023 when 19 adheenams (heads of Shaivite mutts) participated in the Sengol installation at the new Parliament building. The BJP had then used the moment as part of a broader campaign to connect with OBC and other caste groups across Tamil Nadu.

In a move signalling the Centre's commitment to the event, Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal reportedly wrote to 33 Shaivite mutts, inviting them to participate in the Thiruvathirai Adra festival on July 27, which commemorates Rajendra Chola's birth anniversary and also celebrates the Shaiva Siddhanta and Bhakti movements.

"About 25 adheenams have confirmed their participation, while the heads of the remaining eight mutts are either out of the state for spiritual activities or have prior engagements," the English daily quoted a source as saying.

"Modi is fascinated by the Cholas, their seafaring activities, and the kingdom's unmatched naval supremacy. He has read translations of many Tamil books written on the Chola dynasty. Likewise, he takes a keen interest in the Tamil Shaivite movement and that's the reason he wanted all mutt heads to be present at this event," the source added.

Political observers view Modi's increasing spotlight on Tamil culture, the Chola dynasty, and the Shaivite tradition as a tactical move to crack the Dravidian stronghold where the BJP still struggles for a foothold.

Though many adheenams hail from the upper-caste Vellalar community, their congregations are diverse, with four mutts led by OBC heads. The BJP's real turning point with the adheenams was reportedly the Sengol event, where initial hesitation due to the BJP's "Brahminical image" began to fade, the report noted.

"The participation of adheenams in another event hosted by the PM in just two years is an indication that they have begun to trust the BJP. Our primary aim is to engage the adheenams to restore the monasteries to their past glory. We believe such efforts will help us politically, though it may take a long time to reap those benefits," another source added.

It is reported that Music Maestro Ilaiyaraja will be composing a symphony on Thiruvasagam, a revered Tamil hymn collection in praise of Lord Shiva, at the event.

PM Modi to Unveil ₹4,800-Crore Projects in Tuticorin
Meanwhile, in Tuticorin, PM Modi is set to inaugurate and dedicate developmental projects worth over ₹4,800 crore on Saturday. These include a range of infrastructure upgrades aimed at bolstering regional and national connectivity.

A key highlight will be the inauguration of a new terminal building at Tuticorin Airport, constructed at a cost of ₹450 crore. Additionally, two major highway projects will be unveiled: the 4-laning of the Sethiyathope-Cholapuram stretch of NH-36 under the Vikravandi-Thanjavur corridor, developed at a cost of ₹2,350 crore, and the 6-laning of the NH-138 Tuticorin Port Road built for ₹200 crore.

Other major inaugurations include:

• North Cargo Berth-III at V O Chidambaranar Port, with a cargo handling capacity of 6.96 MMTPA and built at a cost of ₹285 crore.

Railway infrastructure upgrades, including:

• Electrification of the Madurai-Bodinayakkanur (90 km) line,
• Doubling of the Nagercoil Town-Kanniyakumari (21 km) section,
• Doubling of Aralvaymozhi-Nagercoil Junction (12.87 km) and Tirunelveli-Melappalayam (3.6 km) sections.

PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for a ₹550 crore Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) to evacuate power from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4. The 400 kV double-circuit line from Kudankulam to the Tuticorin-II GIS substation is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening the national grid and ensuring clean energy distribution across Tamil Nadu and beyond.