Tamil Nadu Minister said this for inspection of Shri Natarajar Temple
Chennai (ANI): Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious (HR) and Charitable Endowments (CE) Minister PK Shekhar Babu said that following High Court orders, a committee has been formed to inspect the Sri Natarajar Temple in Chidambaram.
The committee comprising an archaeologist was confirmed in an affidavit filed by the HR&CE Commissioner. The committee will soon investigate any recent construction work or design changes in the temple and report its findings to the High Court.
“Two benches of the High Court have ordered the formation of a committee to inspect the Sri Natarajar Temple in Chidambaram.
The HR&CE Commissioner has filed an affidavit on this, stating that a committee has been formed with archaeologist and HR&CE officials. It will happen very soon.” Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister PK Shekhar Babu on Friday said the committee will inspect whether any construction work has taken place or any design has been changed and file a report to the high court.
The ‘Dikshitar’ (priest) of Sri Natarajar Temple alleged that the HR and CE interfere in the temple administration in many ways, creating hurdles among the devotees, while the HR and CE Minister Shekhar Babu says that if anyone If the temple violates the law, HR and CE will intervene. And nothing personal.
On June 28, Chidambaram police had booked 10 ‘deekshitars’ (priests) of the Lord Natarajar temple for allegedly preventing Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials from performing their duties, officials said.
This comes after the deekshitars (priests) of the Lord Natarajar temple reportedly prevented devotees from climbing the Kanagasabai (sacred step) at the temple on Tuesday. Later, the police and officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department intervened in the matter.
Babu said, “The state government will ensure that devotees can have darshan without any hindrance. Efforts are being made to bring Chidambaram Natarajar Temple under HR&CE.”
Subsequently, Temple Worship Society President TR Ramesh said that the Supreme Court has noted that the Chidambaram Natarajar Temple is a sect temple and is completely administered by the initiates and not by the HR&CE.
“The Supreme Court has said that Chidambaram Natarajar Temple is a sect temple, which is completely managed by Dikshitar and not by HR&CE,” he said.
Before having darshan of the Lord in Chidambaram Natarajar Temple, there is ‘Kanagasabai’, the public was allowed to climb it. Since June 24, the Dikshits have refused to allow devotees to worship from Kanagasabai and have also put up a board saying that worship from Kanagasabai is not allowed.
The HR&CE reportedly tried to remove the board on Saturday, but failed to do so as ‘Dikshitar’ strongly opposed it.
Subsequently, HR&CE executive officer Saranya lodged a complaint with the Chidambaram city police.
Responding to this, the police registered a case against 10 deekshitars of Natarajar temple, receiving complaints from HR&CE, for obstructing an officer in the performance of duties. (ANI)
