E-Paper
Slugfest after officials enter Tamil Nadu’s Chidambaram temple
It comes a day after HR&CE minister Sekar Babu announced that the government is making efforts to bring the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple under the department’s control
Visuals of an official from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, accompanied by female police officers, entering the kanagasabai (court in the temple of the Hindu deity Shiva) in the famous Chidambaram Nataraja temple has further escalated tensions between the state government, the dikshithars (priests), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters, officials familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
The temple, which is over 1,000 years old, has been embroiled in various controversies, including the recent investigation into the alleged child marriages taking place within its premises.
G. Chandrasekar, legal counsel for the podhu dikshidars (hereditary priests who manage the temple), stated on Wednesday that their intention is not to oppose the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government, but it is the state government that has repeatedly targeted the podhu dikshidars.
He added that the temple would legally defend itself if the HR&CE department attempted to take control of it.
Just a day ago, HR&CE minister Sekar Babu announced that the government is making efforts to bring the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple under the department’s control.
“If they take action, we will place our faith in Lord Nataraja and face them legally,” said Chandrasekar.
On Tuesday, ten dikshidars were booked on charges of obstructing HR&CE officials from performing their duties when they entered the kanagasabai, a space considered sacred, officials said.
Chidambaram Dikshithars are booked under five sections of the Indian Penal Code, and further details are awaited, they added.
The issue began when the temple management erected a board stating that devotees would not be allowed to pray in the kanagasabai from June 24 to June 27 due to the ongoing Aani Thirumanjanam festival.
However, since the state government had previously passed an order allowing devotees to access this space, HR&CE officials attempted to remove the board but faced opposition from the temple management. Eventually, the officials managed to bring some devotees inside the kanagasabai on Tuesday night for prayers.
“The state government will ensure that devotees can have darshan (viewing of the deity) without any hindrance. Efforts are being made to bring the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple under HR&CE,” Minister Babu stated on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, BJP state vice president Narayanan Thirupathy accused the state government of engaging in vendetta politics.
“We condemn the state government trying to take over the temple,” said Thirupathy. “They have no right to enter the premises of the temple. It is unconstitutional, unwarranted and unnecessary.”
Former TN BJP chief and Governor of Telangana and Puducherry, Tamilisai Soundararajan also weighed in. “The government and the dikshidars have to sit down and discuss a long-term solution instead of fighting,” Soundararajan told reporters in TN’s Tirunelveli.
However, A DMK leader not wishing to be named said that the state expected transparency in the administration of the temple but the dikshidars were being authoritarian.
“They want the temple to be marked only for a particular sect,” the leader said. “We will take administrative control with the court’s approval.”
