TN Govt. takes over Historical Chidambaram Nataraja Temple

 

Chidambaram Nataraja Swamy Temple is a Denominational Temple.

 

The Tamil Nadu Government has Exempted Thousands of Sai Baba Temples in Tamil Nadu. The Kanyaka Parameshwari Temples are also exempted by the Government. This interference in the Chidambaram Temple is nothing but blatant display of Political harassment and blatant commercialization.

 

Further, the Chidambaram Temple issue itself is a unique one where there is neither Hundi system nor ticket system. The system of Worship is similar to that of Chilkur Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh which has been recognized by the Government as a unique system and a Special GO M/s No 260 dtd 29/2/08 has been issued allowing it to continue in the same manner.

 

It is unfortunate that immediately after taking over, they are trying to introduce commercial activities. All these activities did not exist in that temple. Devotees belonging to the whole Country are worried over the future of ritualistic worship in this ancient shrine.

 

Premise of Judgment is Questionable

There are several issues pertaining to the Temple System which are pending before the Supreme Court and the citations mentioned in the Judgment delivered by the Tamil Nadu High Court have been referred to a Larger Bench and they are all under review. Hence, the premise on which the Tamil Nadu High Court has delivered the Judgment allowing for an Executive Officer to be appointed to Chidambaram is questionable.

 

Why Congress Silent Now?

Historically, the Congress Party has had a policy of staying away from interfering in Temple System. Hence it has amended the Endowments Act in Andhra Pradesh.

Similarly in 1982 when Smt. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister, the Central Government had interfered in the Chidambaram issue to prevent the MGR Government from going ahead to takeover the Temple.

 

The present Tamil Nadu Government has to be advised to stay away from the activity of interfering with the functioning of Chidambaram Temple.

 

M.V. Soundara Rajan
Convener
Temple Protection Movement