The Chidambaram town police filed an FIR against the Dikshithars, including its secretary, who were booked under various sections of the IPC.
Published Jun 27, 2023 | 3:45 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 27, 2023 | 3:46 PM
Based on a complaint from Saranya, Executive Officer of the Thillai Kali Temple in Chidambaram, the Chidambaram town police filed an FIR against the Podhu Dikshithars. (Commons)
The Chidambaram police in Tamil Nadu have booked 11 Dikshithars of the Sri Natarajar Temple following complaints that they prevented a Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department woman official from discharging her duty and tried to assault her.
Based on a complaint from Saranya, the executive officer of the Thillai Kali Temple in Chidambaram, the Chidambaram town police in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu filed an FIR against the Podhu Dikshithars, including the secretary of the Podhu Dikshithars Committee, Sivarama Dikshithar.
The Dikshitars have been booked under five sections of the Indian Penal Code, as well as under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act of 2002.
In her complaint, Saranya stated that on 24 June 2023, the Dikshithars of the temple placed a board announcing that the devotees would not be allowed to worship the deity from the Kanakasabhai mandapam in the Sri Natarajar temple during the Aani Thirumanjanam festival.
After receiving complaints from the devotees, the officer, along with a few members of the temple authorities and police personnel, went to remove the board, which was deemed to be against the Government Order (GO) that allows devotees to offer worship from the Kanakasabhai mandapam stage.
The Dikshithars reportedly surrounded the officer and threatened her with dire consequences if the board was removed.
As per the complaint, the Diskshithars did not allow the officials to remove the announcement board and some even pushed her.
Hence, action has been sought against those who prevented her from performing her official duties.
Taking the complaint, the police filed an FIR under Sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), and 506 (i) (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, read with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act of 2002.
The Arthamandapam (a raised platform) is the place from where the devotees normally worship the deity of the temple, and is typically located opposite the sanctum sanctorum. In Chidambaram, the Arthamandapam is called as “Kanakasabhai”.
Kanakasabhai Mandapam at Chidambaram Temple
The Kanakasabhai mandapam houses the Spatika Lingam of Chandramouleeswara, along with Nandi Bhagwan and Rathna Sabapathy. This place is conveyed the same sanctity that is reserved for the sanctum sanctorum.
For years, the rights have rested only with the Dikshithars to offer the traditional poojas to the deity, including the singing of the Thevaram (devotional hymns of the Shaivites) from the Kanakasabhai mandapam.
There were instances of devotees being attacked for standing on the Kanakasabhai mandapam and singing the Thevaram.
Following these, the Tamil Nadu government in May 2022 issued a GO permitting all devotees to offer worship from the Kanakasabhai mandapam at the Sri Nataraja Temple.
Following this, the Podhu Dikshithars petitioned the then-president of India to intervene, claiming the GO would affect their livelihood and stating that the government was interfering in their religious rights.
According to the Podhu Dikshithars Committee, they are the hereditary custodians and priests of the temple and are entitled to perform the poojas of the temple.
“We allow devotees to worship from Kanakasabhai. But during the festival days, no one will be allowed to worship Lord Nataraja from the Kanakasabhai as it is a hereditary custom that has been followed for centuries,” said advocate G Chandrasekhar, who appears in cases for the Podhu Dikshithars.
He added that the HR and CE Department was trying to interfere in the day-to-day rituals of the temple against a Supreme Court verdict, and such illegal efforts were being made from time to time to cut off the Dikshithars from the affairs of the temple.
