Palani Dhandayuthapani temple tops Tamil Nadu's 10 highest-earning temples with ₹233.50 crore (HR&CE list)
26 October 2026 · English Tamil Nadu
Topics: Tamil Nadu, Weather & Space · 26 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)
News
A list of Tamil Nadu's 10 highest-earning temples released by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department was reported on 24–26 Oct 2026. The Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple at Palani, Dindigul district, tops it with an annual income of ₹233.50 crore. Next come Arunachaleswarar, Tiruvannamalai (₹139.06 crore); Subramanya Swamy, Tiruchendur (₹131.38 crore); Samayapuram Mariamman (₹111.09 crore); Subramanya Swamy, Tiruttani (₹74.98 crore); Meenakshi Sundareswarar, Madurai (₹73.72 crore); Ramanathaswamy, Rameswaram (₹64.33 crore); Ranganathaswamy, Srirangam (₹50.57 crore); Kallazhagar, Alagar Kovil (₹34.20 crore); and Bannari Amman, Sathyamangalam (₹29.16 crore). The ten together earned ₹941.99 crore. Hundi offerings, paid darshan, prasadam sales and rent are the main sources. (The reports do not name the financial year.)
Key facts
| List | HR&CE Department – reported 24–26 Oct 2026 |
| Top | Palani Dhandayuthapani temple (Dindigul) – ₹233.50 crore |
| 2nd–4th | Tiruvannamalai (₹139.06 cr), Tiruchendur (₹131.38 cr), Samayapuram (₹111.09 cr) |
| 5th–10th | Tiruttani, Madurai Meenakshi, Rameswaram, Srirangam, Kallazhagar, Bannari Amman |
| Total | 10 temples – ₹941.99 crore |
| Use | Renovation, devotee facilities, annadhanam, cleanliness |
Background
- Palani: the temple stands on Sivagiri hill (the other hill is Sakthigiri) at the foot of the Palani Hills, Dindigul district. It is the third of Murugan's six abodes (Arupadai Veedu). Nakkeerar's 'Thirumurugatrupadai' (Pathuppattu) refers to it as 'Thiruvavinankudi'.
- Presiding deity: by tradition, the Dandayuthapani idol (Murugan as an ascetic holding a staff) was made by Siddhar Bogar from 'navapashanam', an amalgam of nine herbs/minerals. Temple lore says a Chera king found the neglected idol and built the shrine.
- Festivals and tradition: Thaipusam, on the Pusam star day of the Tamil month Thai, is the main festival; Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visakam and Soorasamharam are also important. The story of Idumban, who carried the two hills as a 'kavadi' at Sage Agastya's bidding, is held to be the origin of kavadi worship. The hill has steps, a winch (funicular) railway and a rope car. Palani Panchamirtham got a GI tag in 2019.
- Other temples in the list: Arunachaleswarar, Tiruvannamalai – the Pancha Bhoota Sthalam for fire (Agni), famous for the Karthigai Deepam. Tiruchendur and Tiruttani are two more of the six abodes. Rameswaram is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
Tamil Nadu link: all six abodes of Murugan are in Tamil Nadu – three of them (Palani, Tiruchendur, Tiruttani) are in this top-10 list. Four of the five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams are in Tamil Nadu: Ekambareswarar, Kanchipuram (earth), Jambukeswarar, Thiruvanaikaval (water), Tiruvannamalai (fire) and Chidambaram (space); Srikalahasti (air) is in Andhra Pradesh.
Source: Dinamalar (24 Oct 2026); Puthiya Thalaimurai (25 Oct 2026); Daily Thanthi, Oneindia (26 Oct 2026); Tamil Nadu Tourism – Palani temple
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