Chennai: Priests of the landmark Chidambaram Nataraja temple were caught in a tussle with the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department after they banned entry of devotees into the shrine for four days citing security reasons.
At the temple, the Pothu Dikshithars — who are considered the hereditary custodians-cum-archakas in Chidambaram temple — had placed a board forbidding devotees from praying in the Kanakasabhai mandapam, the golden platform at the temple.
The ban on climbing atop the Kanakasabhai mandapam was from 24 to 27 June during the Aathi Thirumanjanam — a four-day auspicious festival when special pujas are conducted.
On receiving a complaint from a devotee, HR&CE officials removed the board, and a large police force was deployed to allow devotees to pray at the temple. Arguments had broken out when the priests protested against the removal of the board, while another group in support of removing the ban assembled and raised slogans.
Meanwhile, HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekarbabu has said the Tamil Nadu government will not remain a mute spectator to any violence perpetrated by the Pothu Dikshithars on the devotees.
“We have no intention of changing any age-old practice or ritual in any temple. We just want to ensure that the court order and a government order allowing the darshan for devotees from the mandapam are obeyed,” he said.
As of Wednesday, the priests allowed devotees to pray from the Kanakasabhai mandapam at the temple.
In a press statement issued 26 June, the legal counsel of the Dikshithars, G. Chandrasekhar, said the system of restricting devotees during important festivals has been in place since time immemorial. It was aimed at regulating the huge crowd of devotees during the Aani Thirumanjanam festival and accordingly a notice board was put up, the statement added.
Chandrasekhar also contested the authority of HR&CE department over the temple. “A notice board was put up in front of the mandapam informing devotees of the decision,” he said.
On 24 June, Saranya, Executive Officer of the Thillai Kali Temple, had visited the temple and instructed the Dikshithars to remove the board but this was not followed. Three days on, the police booked 11 Dikshithars following the officer’s complaint that she was prevented from discharging her duty.
The Dikshithars were booked under Sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 506 (i) (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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