Tamil Nadu temple's 'Moksha passage' claimed a life. Another just escaped

A 36-year-old devotee from Andhra Pradesh died after getting stuck in the Moksha Margam rock passage in a temple in Tamil Nadu. A resurfaced video of another devotee trapped at the same spot has renewed calls for safety measures.A Tamil Nadu temple has come under spotlight for its narrow 'Moksha passage'. (Photo: X)Days after a man died after getting trapped inside the narrow Moksha Margam passage at a temple in Tamil Nadu, a chilling video has resurfaced showing another devotee struggling to escape from the very same spot months earlier.The video resurfaced after 36-year-old Manikumar from Andhra Pradesh died on July 24 while attempting to crawl through the narrow rock passage on the southern path of Arunachala Giri during his pilgrimage to the Annamalaiyar Temple, The Hindu reported.Manikumar got trapped inside the tight opening and soon experienced severe breathing difficulties. Fire and Rescue Services personnel, assisted by local devotees, managed to pull him out. However, he was declared dead after being taken to a hospital.As news of the tragedy spread, a video recorded months before the incident began circulating widely on social media. The clip shows a woman trapped inside the same narrow passage while attempting to pass through the Moksha Margam. Unable to move and visibly struggling to breathe, she remained stuck for several minutes as devotees desperately tried to pull her free.She was eventually rescued unharmed, narrowly escaping what could have become another fatal accident. A few days ago, Manikumar (36) from Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh, got trapped in the narrow rock passage known as Moksha Margam (Moksha road) on the southern path of Arunachala Giri in Tiruvannamalai. He suffered severe breathing problems and later died.Now, just days pic.twitter.com/jTQkn7EcJ9— Aparajite (@amshilparaghu) July 28, 2026Meanwhile, devotees and social activists have urged authorities to introduce immediate safety measures, including installing warning signs, restricting access for people who may not be able to safely pass through the narrow gap, deploying safety personnel, and improving crowd management to prevent similar incidents.The passage is located near the Idukku Pillayar Temple, one of the shrines visited by devotees during the 14-km Girivalam, or circumambulation, of Arunachala Hill.Over the years, many devotees have come to believe that squeezing through the narrow rock gap, popularly known as Moksha Margam, or the "path to liberation", brings spiritual benefits such as removing obstacles, warding off negative energies and helping one attain moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.However, this belief stems from local folklore rather than established religious doctrine. There is no scriptural basis stating that passing through the narrow rock passage grants moksha.Spiritual teachers generally describe moksha as a state attained through self-realisation, righteous living and devotion, rather than through a physical act. The recent tragedy, coupled with the resurfaced video, has intensified calls for authorities to prioritise safety so that faith does not come at the cost of human lives.- EndsPublished By: Srimoyee ChowdhuryPublished On: Jul 29, 2026 16:22 IST