Thousands Protest Government Takeover of Chidambaram Temple

CHIDAMBARAM, INDIA, March 29th, 2009: Over 6,000 devotees participated
in a protest march and rally on Wednesday, March 25, demanding that the
government return the control of Chidambaram Temple to the Dikshitar community, who have managed the temple since time immemorial.

Over six thousand devotees including thousands of women and children belonging to around several Hindu organizations of Tamil Nadu marched on the streets of holy city of Chidambaram, braving the hot weather, carrying placards stating – “Leave The Temple”. They covered a distance of few kilometers, collectively chanting the mantra “Aum Namah Sivaya”.

Participants included notables Hindu Temple Protection Committee leader Sri Kunchitapatam, retired teacher Sri Chandrakasan, and BJP Tamilnadu State Leader Sri L Ganesan. Siva
devotees from all over Tamil Nadu, including thousands of women and
children and representing some one dozen Hindu organizations, joined
the march.

In an exclusive interview a senior dikshitar Shri N.
Srimoolalingam, a senior dikshitar, said, “There seems to be a deep
rooted conspiracy behind the takeover of Chidambaram Temple by the
government, as it is one of the strongest pillars of Saivism and this
is going to adversely affect the spiritual rituals and practices of
this world-renowned Hindu temple.” Visibly distressed, he pointed out
that not a single English-language newspaper bothered to cover the
event. “This itself shows how even our media is completely biased and
is suppressing the voice and aspirations of dikshitar community who are
a microscopic minority.”

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