Durga Stalin offers prayers at Nimishamba Temple amid Sanatan Dharma row
Synopsis
Durga Stalin's quiet Monday visit to a Karnataka temple — offering prayers in the names of M.K. Stalin and Udhayanidhi — became a Tuesday political flashpoint. With her son repeatedly calling for the abolition of Sanatan Dharma in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the viral temple photographs have handed the BJP fresh ammunition and reignited one of Tamil Nadu's sharpest identity-politics debates.
Key Takeaways
Durga Stalin visited the Nimishamba Temple in Ganjam, Mandya district , Karnataka, on Monday , offering prayers in the names of M.K.
Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin .
She was accompanied by JD(S) MLA G.T.
Deve Gowda and family members; rituals were conducted by chief priest Surya Narayana Bhat .
Photographs and videos of the visit went viral on Tuesday , drawing attention to the perceived contradiction with Udhayanidhi's anti-Sanatan Dharma stance.
Udhayanidhi Stalin has publicly called for the 'abolition' of Sanatan Dharma, arguing it promotes caste discrimination — a position that has triggered nationwide backlash and legal challenges.
Annamalai had earlier cited Durga Stalin's temple visits while challenging Udhayanidhi on his Sanatan Dharma position.
Durga Stalin, wife of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, visited the renowned Nimishamba Temple in Ganjam, Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district, Karnataka, on Monday, offering special prayers in the names of her husband and son. The visit comes amid the ongoing national controversy over her son and Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin's repeated calls for the abolition of Sanatan Dharma.
The Temple Visit
Durga Stalin arrived at the Nimishamba Temple near Mysuru accompanied by family members and Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] MLA G.T. Deve Gowda, his daughter, and son-in-law. According to temple sources, the visit coincided with an auspicious full moon day.
She performed the traditional 'Udi Seva' to Goddess Nimishamba and offered a silk saree, bangles, flowers, fruits, and coconuts to the deity. The rituals — conducted by chief priest Surya Narayana Bhat — included Kumkumarchane, a recital of the Durga Saptashati, and Maha Mangalarati, followed by distribution of prasada among devotees.
Temple staff said she spent around 30 minutes at the main shrine before proceeding to offer prayers at temples dedicated to Mouktikeshwara, Lakshminarayana Swamy, Surya Narayana Swamy, Ganapathi, and Anjaneyaswamy within the complex. She also had special devotional offerings performed in the names of M.K. Stalin, Udhayanidhi, and other family members.
Photographs Go Viral, Political Circles Take Note
Photographs and videos of Durga Stalin performing the rituals spread widely on social media by Tuesday, with numerous users highlighting what they described as a contradiction between Udhayanidhi's public stance on Sanatan Dharma and the family's temple visit. The imagery drew significant attention in political circles across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
This is not the first time the DMK family's religious practices have been cited in the context of the Sanatan Dharma debate. Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president K. Annamalai had earlier challenged Udhayanidhi directly, saying: 'If you want to eradicate Sanatan Dharma, please stop your mother. Every day she goes to one temple in the morning and one in the evening.'
Udhayanidhi's Sanatan Dharma Stance
Udhayanidhi Stalin has, on multiple occasions, called for the eradication or abolition of Sanatan Dharma, arguing that it perpetuates caste discrimination and social inequality. Most recently, in his maiden speech as Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, he stated: 'Sanatan Dharma, which divides the people, must certainly be abolished.'
He has clarified that his position targets caste-based discrimination, not religious belief or temple worship per se. Nonetheless, the remarks have drawn nationwide backlash, legal challenges, and sustained criticism from several Hindu organisations and opposition parties.
Political Fallout and What Comes Next
The Sanatan Dharma controversy has become a recurring flashpoint in Tamil Nadu politics, with the BJP and several Hindu groups continuing to press the DMK on the issue. Durga Stalin's temple visit is likely to intensify that debate, even as DMK leaders maintain that personal religious practice and political ideology are separate matters.
With assembly sessions ongoing and the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections on the horizon, the episode underscores how religion and identity politics remain potent fault lines in the state's political landscape.
Point of View
Aimed at the caste hierarchy embedded in certain practices rather than temple worship itself. Yet the party has consistently failed to communicate that nuance, leaving it exposed every time a family member lights an agarbatti. The BJP's ability to weaponise this gap — rather than engage the substantive caste-discrimination argument — says as much about opposition strategy as it does about DMK's messaging deficit.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Durga Stalin's temple visit attract political attention?
The visit drew attention because her son, Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, has repeatedly called for the abolition of Sanatan Dharma in public forums, including the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Photographs of Durga Stalin performing Hindu rituals at the Nimishamba Temple went viral on Tuesday, with many highlighting the perceived contradiction between Udhayanidhi's stance and the family's religious practices.
Which temple did Durga Stalin visit, and where is it located?
Durga Stalin visited the Nimishamba Temple in Ganjam village, situated in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district, Karnataka, near Mysuru. She performed the 'Udi Seva' ritual, offered a silk saree and other items to the deity, and had special prayers conducted by chief priest Surya Narayana Bhat.
What has Udhayanidhi Stalin said about Sanatan Dharma?
Udhayanidhi Stalin has called for the eradication and abolition of Sanatan Dharma on multiple occasions, most recently in his maiden speech as Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, stating 'Sanatan Dharma, which divides the people, must certainly be abolished.' He has clarified that his position targets caste discrimination and social inequality, not religious belief or temple worship.
What did BJP's K. Annamalai say about the DMK family's temple visits?
Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai challenged Udhayanidhi Stalin directly, saying: 'If you want to eradicate Sanatan Dharma, please stop your mother. Every day she goes to one temple in the morning and one in the evening.' His remarks were made in the context of the broader controversy over the DMK's Sanatan Dharma stance.
Who accompanied Durga Stalin during the Nimishamba Temple visit?
Durga Stalin was accompanied by family members and JD(S) MLA G.T. Deve Gowda, along with his daughter and son-in-law. According to temple sources, the visit coincided with an auspicious full moon day, and she spent around 30 minutes at the main shrine.
