The Chidambaram Nataraja Temple Dispute

The Chidambaram Nataraja Temple Dispute

The Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, one of Tamil Nadu’s most iconic spiritual landmarks, has long been at the heart of various legal and religious controversies. Let’s take a quick look at the key aspects of the issue.

A grand dance competition was held to decide who was greater, Lord Shiva or Goddess Kali. All the rishis and sages gathered, eager to witness the dance performance. Kali danced fearlessly, matching every step and expression of Lord Shiva with grace and confidence. The dance seemed endless, as both were equally powerful and neither was willing to stop. Then, Lord Shiva did something unexpected. While dancing, he suddenly lifted his left leg high into the air, a move termed the Chidambara Rahasiyam. Although Kali was dancing well, this step was considered improper for a woman to perform in public. Out of modesty, Kali looked down and bowed her head. Lord Shiva was thus declared the winner. The sages sat in silent surprise. Lord Shiva then explained that women must observe the traditional limits of feminine grace. This highlights the extent to which the Hindu religion has been structured in a way that exercises control over women.

In the 8th century, Nandanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars and a devoted follower of Lord Shiva, visited the temple through the southern tower gate. However, the temple priests, known as the Dikshitars, did not allow him inside, citing caste-based restrictions. As a Scheduled Caste devotee, Nandanar faced severe discrimination. The Dikshitars told him that he could worship Lord Shiva only if he jumped into a fire and was reborn as a “pure” Brahmin. This was an impossible and inhumane demand, no one can survive fire and return. The story that Nandanar emerged from the flames is a myth. The gate through which Nandanar tried to enter remains closed, symbolizing a cruel act rooted in caste oppression, carried out in the name of religion.

As early as 1890, the court declared that the temple was not the private property of the Dikshitars, a hereditary community of Shaiva Brahmin priests, but a public institution. In 1951, the Tamil Nadu Government appointed an Executive Officer under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Act to oversee temple management. The Dikshitars opposed this intervention, claiming it violated their traditional rights to administer the temple’s religious and spiritual functions. This set off a decades-long legal tug-of-war over who should control the temple.

The debate reached a turning point with the Supreme Court’s 1954 ruling in the landmark Shirur Mutt case, which upheld the rights of religious denominations to manage their own affairs under Article 26 of the Indian Constitution. This strengthened the Dikshitars’ legal position. However, financial concerns began to surface. When the Dikshitars disclosed the temple's revenue in 2007, it stood at a mere Rs.37,199 annually. After the Tamil Nadu Government briefly resumed control in 2009, revenue soared to Rs.3.15 crore by 2014. The dramatic rise fueled criticism of the Dikshitars’ financial transparency and administrative effectiveness.

In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that the HR & CE Act did not apply to the Chidambaram temple, handing back full control to the Dikshitars. But controversy didn’t fade. Critics pointed to opaque financial records, undocumented service charges, and exclusive customs that kept many devotees at arm’s length. These concerns reignited debates about whether such important religious institutions should remain in private hands or fall under state oversight to ensure transparency and inclusivity.

Public anger boiled over in 2022 when Lakshmi Jayaseela, a Dalit woman, was reportedly barred from entering the Kanagasabai, the temple’s innermost sanctum. The incident spotlighted ongoing caste-based discrimination and drew sharp criticism from across the country. In response, the HR & CE Department launched an inquiry into the temple’s practices. Though the Dikshitars, around 29,000 in number, claim they are carrying out a sacred duty as a distinct religious group, their opposition to inclusive reforms and to Arumugasamy singing Tamil hymns has further distanced them from sections of the public.

The Chidambaram Nataraja Temple case is now a focal point in a wider debate on temple administration in India. This has invited public feedback on how temples should be managed, whether by hereditary custodians, government bodies, or inclusive public trusts. At its core, the issue involves more than legal ownership; it touches on caste, tradition, accessibility, and public accountability.

https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/explained-row-between-dikshithars-and-tn-govt-over-chidambaram-nataraja-temple-165240

https://may17kural.com/wp/insolence-of-dikshitar-in-thillai-tamil-rights-being-denied/

https://www.vinavu.com/2024/09/20/chidambaram-nataraja-temple-dikshitars-sold-2000-acres-of-temple-land/

https://www.vinavu.com/2019/10/14/chidambaram-nataraja-temple-prpc-demonstration/

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