The controversy ignited when explicit multimedia messaging service (MMS) video clips and compact discs (CDs) began circulating aggressively through mobile networks and local underground channels in Kanchipuram. The videos depicted the priest engaged in highly explicit, compromising acts with multiple women inside the temple premises—specifically targeting the inner chambers and areas near the moolasthanam (sanctum sanctorum). How the Videos Came to Light
: Devanathan surreptitiously recorded these acts on his mobile phone. The explicit video files, totaling roughly 90 minutes of footage, leaked into the public domain after a mobile repair mechanic discovered the clips while servicing the priest's phone. kanchipuram devanathan videos
In 2013, after completing his degree in Computer Science, Devanathan bought a modest DSLR and a basic tripod. He set up a makeshift studio in the back of the family workshop, using a white sheet as a backdrop and the rhythmic hum of the loom as background ambience. His first video, “The Birth of a Kanchipuram Silk Saree” , was a ten‑minute walkthrough that combined close‑ups of the dye‑bath, the hand‑looming process, and a voice‑over explaining the significance of each colour. The explicit video files, totaling roughly 90 minutes
A "where are they now" or historical look at high-profile temple scandals in Tamil Nadu. Key Details: His first video, “The Birth of a Kanchipuram
: The investigation revealed how Devanathan utilized his religious standing and control over the temple sanctuary to manipulate and threaten victims, threatening to ruin their social standings if they did not comply.