CHIDAMBARAM, INDIA, November 12, 2014 (The Hindu): The Podhu Dikshithars of the Sri Sabanayagar Temple here (the Nataraja temple) seem to be heading for another legal tangle over the conferment of the title Uthsav Acharya. The title is conferred on a Dikshithar through the draw of lots before organizing very special events such as kumbabhishekam and yagnas and important festivals being held in the Tamil months of Aani and Margazhi.
For the conduct of the Margazhi festival in 2012, the Podhu Dikshithars’ Committee selected S. Swarna Sabesa Dikshithar as Uthsav Acharya. However, after his selection, it was found that he was not living with his wife, a prerequisite for the title. [In this South Indian tradition, a temple priest can only fulfill his duties after his marriage, and has to give them up upon the death of his wife]. Therefore, the committee took back the title from him and instead selected S.V. Nagabushana Dikshithar to perform the rituals.
However, for the coming Margazhi event scheduled for December 27, Swarna Sabesa Dikshithar has staked his claim for the title. He told reporters here recently that there were no rules that prevented a Dikshthar, who got estranged from his spouse, from holding the title. He also filed a case in the Chidambaram Munsif Court. In response, Bhaskar Dikshithar, secretary of the committee, told reporters that the affairs of the temple were managed as per the rules and tenets for thousands of years. All the events were being conducted as per Agamas and Sastras.