International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

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Meesala Venkanna Swamy Temple, Yanam: A Historical Study of Child Marriage and Legal Reform

Author(s) Mr. Ravulapati Venkaiah
Country India
Abstract Meesala Venkanna Swamy Temple, popularly known as the Mustache Venkanna Swamy Temple, located in Yanam—a former French colonial enclave on the Coromandel Coast—occupied a distinctive position in the religious and social life of the region during the colonial period. Alongside its spiritual importance, the temple became historically associated with the practice of child marriages, reflecting entrenched socio-religious customs of early twentieth-century Telugu society. This paper examines the historical evolution of the Meesala Venkanna Swamy Temple, its function as a venue for temple-based marriages, and the transformative impact of the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 (Sharada Act). Drawing upon municipal civil marriage records (1900–1954), architectural analysis, and qualitative oral testimonies, the study analyses the varied impact of the Act in British India and French India, particularly Yanam. The paper further highlights the unique iconographic identity of the mustached Venkateswara deity and explains how this temple differs from other major Venkateswara Swamy temples. The study demonstrates how colonial law, religious authority, and post-independence legal reforms collectively reshaped marriage practices and contributed to the decline of temple-centered child marriage traditions in Yanam.
Keywords Meesala Venkanna Swamy Temple; Yanam; Child Marriage; Sharada Act (1929); French India; Colonial Law; Social Reform
Field Sociology > Tourism / Transport
Published In Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On 2026-01-04
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.65663
Short DOI https://doi.org/hbhsh3
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