TN government takes control of centuries old Hindu shrine

Magh Shuddha Asthami

Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu): Within 24 hours of the Madras High Court ordering that the Tamil Nadu government takeover the management of the 1,200-year-old Nataraja temple in Chidambaram town, K. Krishna Kumar began formally administering the shrine as its new executive officer Tuesday

"All devotees will be able to offer prayers inside the temple uninterrupted. We have served the government’s order, taken over the administration of the temple from the Dikshitars (priests) and are now in control," Krishna Kumar told IANS.

"The Dikshitars have indicated that they will challenge the order after obtaining a copy of the judgement. We will follow the orders of the court," added Krishna Kumar, who is also the deputy commissioner of the state government’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department.

C. Navathandava Dikshitar, who heads a body of the priests, said: "The government took control without the judgement copy on the basis of a faxed order. As we are law abiding citizens, officials have been allowed entry and are running the administration. However, we will be challenging the orders shortly."

"Our control goes back over 1,000 years and was sanctioned by divinity. Politicians with ulterior motives have now managed to wrest control of our historic temple and are attempting to snatch our livelihood," he added.

Source: newkerala.com

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