CUDDALORE, TAMIL NADU, February 17, 2009: Members of the Chidambaram Temple’s Protection Committee, led by its president K. Gandhi, fasted Monday at Chidambaram, urging the State government to revoke the order on take-over of the Natarajar temple.
According to Mr. Gandhi, the Committee recently passed a resolution stating that the Podhu Dikshithars were performing the rituals and running the affairs of the temple in full conformity with tradition.
The committee felt that the charges of poor administration leveled against the Dikshithars were completely false; that the administration of the temple should be returned to the Dikshithars; and that the officials of the Hindu Religious and Endowment Department should not do anything contrary to tradition, nor should they hurt the sentiments of the devotees.
It further stated that in the name of Tamil language and human rights, certain atheists were trying to gain a hold on the temple, and that their motive was suspect as they were bent upon disrupting societal peace and creating fear psychosis among the devotees.
Condemning as false the atheists’ claim that the Dikshithars were opposing recitation of verses from the Thevaram, the committee stated that the Dikshithars were well versed in Thevaram and used to recite the verses at the temple every day.
The committee voiced its strong opposition against the move to convert places of worship into commercial centers and revenue sources, as this would undermine true devotion.