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Tension prevailed inside the famous Nataraja temple here on Sunday after priests tried to prevent a man from rendering Tamil devotional hymns “dhevaram” inside the sanctum sanctorum, police said.
Unruly scenes were witnessed by the devotees after Arumuga Swamy, who had been trying to sing “dhevaram” inside the sanctum sanctorum for the past several years, reached the temple armed with an order by a court-appointed official permitting him to sing there.
About 50 ‘deekshitars’ (temple priests), who own the temple, blocked Swamy reiterating their stance that he could not enter the sanctum sanctorum but could recite it outside, police said.
However, Swamy entered the sanctum sanctorum with the assistance of a police team led by District Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pradeep Kumar. In the ensuing scuffle, the priests tried to pull out Swamy from the sacred spot. The police forcefully evicted the priests and Swamy was allowed to render the hymn penned by saint poets—Appar, Thirunavakkarasar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar— praising Lord Shiva.
Swamy had filed a case in Madras High Court seeking permission to sing inside the sanctum sanctorum. Admitting his petition, the court had asked Secretary of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Trust to look into the matter.
The Trust’s secretary Santhanam had issued an order last week stating that Swamy could sing inside the sanctum sanctorum without causing disturbance to devotees.
Swamy had contended that “dhevaram” was sung inside sanctum sanctorum of the temple some 60 years back. Later on, it was not permitted by the priests. Nowadays, only the priests enter the sanctum sanctorum. The priests’ contended that Swamy could sing it inside the temple premises, but not inside sanctum sanctorum.
(via
Deccan Herald, 3'Mar 2008)
The release said, “Whatever be the legal outcome of the cases registered in connection with the incidents, dikshitars are requested not to prevent the devotees from reciting Tamil hymns. Those opposing it will be subjected to stringent legal action.”
(via
Deccan Herald, 5'Mar 2008)
Eighty fans who thronged Bangalore airport to welcome India’s U-19 cricket heroes yesterday, were not fans. They were paid to be there. MiD DAY discovered that the girls were paid Rs 1,000 each and the boys Rs 200 to stand and wave the Tricolour and cheer as the team, who routed South Africa, emerged from the airport terminal building.
In fact, the ‘fans’ did not know the name of a single U-19 cricketer.
...
Rosy, a ‘fan’, said, “I don’t know any player and I am not interested.” For Sulochana too, this was just a way to earn some pocket money.
...
The students used the tricolour to cover their heads as they waited for the U-19 team to arrive.
(via Mid-Day)
