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CHENNAI, INDIA, March 2, 2008: (HPI note: This is a series of reports on the incidents between the Chidambaram dikshitars and the government that led to the imprisonment and later release of 11 dikshitars and other protesters.) A Sanskrit-versus-Tamil row yesterday led to police and priests pushing and shoving each other at the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram, one of Tamil Nadu’s most popular shrines.

The priests had stopped devotional singer Arumugasamy from climbing up to the mukhamandapam, the elevated enclosure next to the sanctum sanctorum, to sing Tamil hymns. When the police came to the bard’s rescue, a scuffle broke out.

The priests use the mukhamandapam to pray to the deity in Sanskrit. Hymns from the Thevaram anthology, part of the Tamil Saiva Siddhantha tradition, are allowed in a lower enclosure.

Arumugasamy has challenged the tradition in court, saying the temple should treat Tamil on a par with Sanskrit. “We are not against the rendition of hymns from the Thevaram; the difference is only about which enclosure they should be sung from,” a temple source said over the phone.

Police reinforcements had already been sent to the temple in the morning, and they allowed only 25 devotees to accompany Arumugasamy inside the temple.

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CHIDAMBARAM, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, March 6, 2008: In a sudden U turn, conservative dikshitars have given a cordial reception to those who came to the Lord Nataraja temple in Chidambaram on Wednesday. Dikshitars, who are the temple priests, changed their attitude following a strict warning issued by the State Government for obstructing persons who wished to recite Tamil devotional hymns in the world famous shrine.

Two persons recited verses from Thevaram and Thiruvasagam for 10 minutes. Superintendent of Police Pradip Kumar had posted a strong contigent of police force in the temple town. Around 100 persons including activists of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Manitha Urimai Padukappu Maiyam, Purachikara Mana var Ilaynar Munnani, Pudhiya Jananayaga Thozhilalar Munnani and Vivasaigal Viduthalai Munnani entered the shrine. (HPI note: HPI would like to receive more information about who these groups are and what they represent. Those with informations please e-mail ar@hindu.org)

The police allowed nearly 30 persons into the Chitsaba. Meanwhile, the dikshitars completed “kalapuja” at 11am. Five persons — Murugan, Shamnugam, Ezhuamalai, Ravi and Rajendran climbed the top of a stage in the Chitsaba, the area immediately close to the sanctum. Murugan and Shanmugam recited devotional verses for 10 minutes. The sanctum sanctorum remained open. Soon after reciting the verses, the dikshitars applauded and showed the sacred light “deeparathani” to them. After reciting the hymns, Tamil poet Arumugaswamy left the temple without waiting to accept the respects offered by the dikshitars, who presented the others with shawls and garlands. They patted the journalists and requested them to cooperate with them in future. They gave away sacred ashes, shawls and garlands to the journalists on the occasion. Murugan, who recited the verses said, “We are happy to recite the Tamil devotional hymns in the temple. However, this should be done without the presence of police.”

SP Pradip Kumar said, “The police remained in the temple as uneasy tension prevailed between dikshitars and Tamil activists. Once cordial relations amongst them is developed, they (the police) will no longer be present.”

Following directions from the State Government, the dikshitars and Tamil activists, including Arumuga Odhuvar, who were incarcerated in prisons on Monday, were released on Wednesday. Dikshitars have expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for dropping the case against them. However, they said that a further course of action would be decided in a general body meeting of dikshitar maha saba in Chidambaram.

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CHIDAMBARAM, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, March 6, 2008: Volunteers of the Human Rights Protection Centre (HRPC), Farmers Liberation Front and Makkal Kalai Ilakkiyam took out a procession and garlanded the statue of rationalist leader Periyar E.V. Ramasamy after bursting crackers to celebrate what they called “victory of Tamil”. (HPI Note: P. Ramasamy was a prominent social activist and atheist. His article on Wikipedia, here, lists his famous statement: “He who created god was a fool, he who spreads his name is a scoundrel, and he who worships him is a barbarian.”)

As reported by The Statesman here, Tamil nationalist leader Mr P. Nedumaran demanded that the Hindu religious and charitable endowments department take over the temple administration.

www.hinduismtoday.com

I went to the root of things, and found nothing but Him alone.
Mira Bai (1500-1550), princess of Rajasthan, Northwest India, a saint celebrated for her lyrical poetry dedicated to Krishna