The state's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department faced major backlash over a lack of oversight. This led to strict regulations, including banning mobile phones inside specific temple zones and installing mandatory CCTV cameras.

Disguising executables or scripts as "free video downloaders." Steals saved browser passwords and financial data.

The first camp, comprising traditionalists and some priestly associations, argued that the video was deceptively cropped or deliberately shot from an angle that misrepresented a legitimate ritual act. They claimed that a non-initiated person cannot understand the esoteric symbolism of priestly actions. Furthermore, they alleged a conspiracy—a "Hinduphobic" or atheistic agenda aimed at defaming Sanatana Dharma. For this group, sharing the video was itself a sin ( adharma ), a violation of the sanctity of the temple space. Their argument rested on the premise that priests are answerable only to the deity and the shastras , not to a mobile-wielding public.

The scandal triggered a profound sense of shock and anger within Kanchipuram, which is famous for its thousand temples and orthodox traditions.