HPI
USA, July 18, 2006: HPI reader Dhakshinamurthy writes in reference to our story (HPI July 16) on an Odhuvar being stopped by the police from singing Tamil songs at Chidambaram temple:
“I am a regular visitor to Chidambaram temple. I have always observed that after the aarthi (main worship), the Dikshidhars chant a Sanskrit mantra which would invariably, repeat, invariably be followed by a rendering of Tamil Devaram by an Odhuvar, sung with such dedication and resonance, that it would move every listener. The present problem has its genesis in political parties who are self-proclaimed atheists trying to foment problem and chaos in places where none exists. The issue relating to the language of mantras is an issue to be settled among the believers, by the believers, certainly not by atheists and traditional Hindu-baiters. With the ascendency to power of Dravidian parties, whose knowledge of Tamil is limited to alliteration and contentless flowery language, denigration and derision of Hinduism in the name of support to Tamil have been taken to ridiculous lengths. The traditional Saivite mutts have been roped in in the name of Tamil though service to Tamil and proficiency in Tamil require as much effort and selfless devotion as mastery of Sanskrit requires, qualities far removed from these self-styled Tamil protectors.”