Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department

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]

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.

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

1. ^ ^{a b c} "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.