Apple Of The Deity’s Eye? iPhone Accidentally Dropped In Temple Hundi, Authorities Say It Belongs To The Deity

Temples across India are known for their sacred rituals and the generous offerings that devotees make, ranging from flowers and coconuts to money and gold. These items are considered blessings for the deity, a token of devotion and gratitude. But in a bizarre turn of events in Tamil Nadu, one devotee’s offering took an unexpected form: an iPhone.

Devotee’s iPhone Becomes ‘Property Of The Deity’ At Tamil Nadu Temple

The unusual incident took place at the Arulmigu Kandaswamy Temple in Thiruporur, near Chennai, where Dinesh, a resident of Vinayagapuram, went to offer his respects. The routine visit with his family on a Friday took a strange turn when, after worshipping the deity, Dinesh attempted to make a monetary offering by dropping some cash into the temple’s donation box, known locally as the hundi. 

In what can only be described as an accidental blunder, his iPhone, which he had in his shirt pocket, slipped and fell into the hundi along with the money. Initially, the incident seemed like a mere mistake that could be easily rectified with a simple request to the temple authorities. However, things took a twist when Dinesh approached temple officials, hoping to retrieve his phone. 

The response he received, as The Times of India reported, was nothing short of shocking: the iPhone, now resting at the bottom of the donation box, was considered “property of the deity” once it had fallen into the hundi. The temple authorities maintained that any item placed in the box, intentional or not, was now owned by the temple’s deity and could not be returned.

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Authorities Refuse To Return It

In an attempt to get his case resolved, Dinesh filed a formal complaint with the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department. The authorities eventually agreed to open the hundi, and Dinesh was hopeful of retrieving his phone. However, the authorities upheld their stance. His iPhone would not be returned.

In a rather odd gesture, temple officials offered Dinesh to take the SIM card from his phone, allowing him to retrieve any important data. According to the Times of India reports, Dinesh had already gotten a new SIM card so he had no use for it. He left the temple emptyhanded. The temple’s executive officer added that it was unclear whether Dinesh had intentionally dropped the iPhone as part of his offering or if it had simply slipped out of his pocket by accident.

Now, the iPhone remains in the temple’s possession, a curious addition to the temple’s sacred donations.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva