Priest falls from Tiruvarur temple car during aradhana, dies

According to sources, Aadi Pooram celebrations at the temple in Tiruvarur commenced on July 25 with the flag hoisting event, and the priest there, Murali Gurukkal (56), had been taking part in all the temple activities, including the Ambal pooja and Kaapu kattuthal. On Friday afternoon, Murali Gurukkal performed a special pooja to the deity being placed on the Manonmani Amman car, and around 6 p.m., devotees started to pull the car, which then was taken along all the four veedhis and then reached back at the station around 8.15 p.m. After the car was made stationary, Murali Gurukkal stepped on the car and performed Deepa Aradhana. While he was performing the ritual, he slipped from the car and fell down onto the cement road, sustaining a severe head injury that left him unconscious and bleeding profusely. Soon, devotees there rushed him to a private hospital in Tiruvarur from where he was then referred to hospital in Thanjavur district. However, the doctors there who checked on the priest’s health condition, declared him brought dead, and the body was subsequently taken back to the Tiruvarur medical college where the post-mortem was conducted.

Devotees at the Tiruvarur temple who were shocked to hear the passing of Murali Gurukkal, appealed to the State government to lend financial help to the priest’s family.