Kollywood fans are a devoted lot. Many of them worship their favourite stars and treat them like demigods. Their adoration for their icons sometimes reaches such heights that they even build temples in honour of the objects of their admiration. Fans have constructed temples in honour of adored heroines like Khushboo and Namitha. Now superstar Rajinikanth’s fans have gone one step forward and placed their thalaivar alongside a god in a temple.
Rajinikanth is a known spiritualist. Since his fans mirror his ideologies, they take spirituality quite seriously too. And to prove their love for him, these fans have installed a special Sahasra Lingam at Koti Lingeshwar Temple, a well known Shiva Temple in Kolar District, Karnataka, seeking the Almighty’s blessings of peace, prosperity and long life for their thalaivar.

This holy site boasts of around one crore lingams. Devotees who flock here can get a lingam installed in their family name at a price. The pundits will then take care of the respective lingam. The one installed for Rajinikanth is unique and its specialty is that it has a thousand lingams engraved on it. It has been installed in a prominent site opposite the main 50 foot-high lingam and Nandi (the holy bull).

The installation of the Rajini lingam was done at a well-attended, deeply moving ceremony. Cutting across religion, the members of the fans’ association chose to install the Sahasra Lingam accompanied by vedic chants and special prayers by Vaishnavite priests. The idea to install the sacred lingam was initiated by the Karnataka State Rajinikanth Fans’ Association president S Simon Raj and secretary Manivannan. According to the members of the association, “The event proves that secular principles are followed by Thalaivar’s fans. We stand united and not divided by any caste!” On the occasion, a book on saint- composer Purandaradasa was released.[DC]