CUDDALORE, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, July 16, 2006: (HPI note: The context of this dispute is not clear to us. An Odhuvar is a highly trained singer who performs the songs of the Tamil saints in temples. Odhuvars are part of the staff at temples in Tamil Nadu, where they sing in Tamil to the Deity as part of the puja. So it is unclear here what the issue was the led the temple’s priests, the Dikshtars, to object to this Odhuvar.)
Police foiled an attempt of a group led by an Odhuvar to recite devotional hymns in Tamil at the famous Nataraja temple with the arrest of 76 people, including the Odhuvar and seven women, in Chidambaram on Saturday. Odhuvar and volunteers of Manitha Urimai Padhukappu Maiyam, Vivasaigal Vidutahlai Munnani, Pudhiya Jananaiyaka Thozhilalar Munnani, Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam, Tamil Ilakkiya Pervai, Dravidar Kazhagam, Pattali Makkal Katchi and Dalit Panther’s of India (HPI note: We understand these to be left-wing organizations), proceeded to the shrine defying prohibitory orders, which was clamped to scuttle the move apprehending tension in the temple town, on Saturday morning. In the wake of the recent government order allowing persons from all castes to become archakars and recite devotional hymns in their mother tongue at temples, Arumugasamy (73), an Odhuvar at Naalvar Madam in Kumudimoolai near Bhuvanagiri, had sought police security for reciting hymns in Tamil at the Chit Saba in the temple a week ago. Arumugasamy, who belonged to a Vanniya community, had proposed to sing verses from Devaram and Thiruvasagam for six days from July 15.
The Deekshidars, who control all affairs of the temple, objected to this and obtained a ban order from a munsif court in Chidambaram two days ago. The court had prevented the Odhuvar from undertaking the move till July 20. Meanwhile, the Odhuvar lodged a complaint with the Chidambaram police alleging that he had received threatening calls from unidentified persons. According to history, renowned Saivite quartet, Appar, Sundarar, Thirunavukkarasar and Manikkavasakar, had worshipped the Lord and composed devotional hymns at the shrine centuries ago. Armugasamy said that the temple was the birth place of great epics Devaram and Thiruvasagam, which were penned in Tamil several centuries ago. But, the Deekshidars had been reciting verses in Sanskrit for several decades. Earlier, Arumugasamy had sought the permission of Hindu Religious and Endowment Board in May 2004 and recited verses from Devaram. A month later, he was attacked by unidentified persons. Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar posted a large contingent of police force around the shrine and other parts of the temple town to prevent any untoward incident on Saturday. Defying the prohibitory order, Arumugasamy and his supporters assembled at the Melaveethi. Leaders from various parties also joined the protest and proceeded towards the temple. A team led by ASP Pradip Kumar and tahsildar Parasuraman stopped the group and arrested 76 persons, including Arumugasamy and seven women, at Melaveedhi in the afternoon.