In November 1894, the French missionary Caussanel purchased a house site on the temple's East Car street, and began the construction of a Christian chapel.

[1] The Sessions Court convicted two Nadars, named Mahalinga and Karutna and sentenced them to death on 17 August 1895, while others received 3 to 6 months.

In modern times, the village is part of Thoothukudi district in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The place has a granite hill known for three historic landmarks, namely Vettuvan Koil, Kalugumalai Jain Beds and Kalugasalamoorthy Temple.

[2] Kalugumalai along with its temples and historic monuments was under the control of Ettaiyapuram Zamindar until 1954, once one of the largest estates and colonial era "little kingdom" recognized by the Madras Presidency of British India.

[1] In early 1890s, the Nadars had newly converted to Roman Catholicism and their rivalry with the Maravars who were traditional Hindus intensified.

As in the case with villages in South India, people resided in specific streets based on their castes.

The Shanars, on account of their superior liquidity, wanted their social status to be on par with other communities.

Nadars converted in large numbers to attain upward mobility, which was otherwise denied by the Hindu community.

Some historians also believe that Nadars were successful in cotton trade in the region where other communities could not compete.

With further appeal, the Chief Justice ruled on 7 August 1899 that the temple had not dedicated the streets as public.

[3] A French missionary by name Caussanel bought the same house in the East Car Street and started building a Church in the locality.

After official intervention, the church was built, but a protruding facade (called pandal) believed to have impeded the path of the temple car.

It is unclear on who started the clash, but the Estate manager was stabbed to death along with the Munisif of Duraisaipuram village, who sustained injuries and died after a while.

The caste Hindu Maravars set the church roof on fire and attacked the Nadar households.

The rivals provided contrasting accounts of the events to the Munisif court, while Caussenel gave a hand-written note to the Sub-Magistrate stating that the opposing Hindu started pelting stones to initiate the events and set fire to the church.

Religious prejudices favouring the Shanars who converted to Christianity is also a common accusation questioning the neutrality of the studies.