Express press service

CUDDALORE: The state government will act as a bridge between the Dikshithars of the Nataraja Temple and the devotees, and resolve the issues without affecting the traditions, said Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, PK Sekar Babu. He added that steps will be taken to organize a Kumbhabhishekam for the Nataraja temple.

The minister was visiting Chidambaram Temple on Monday morning. After a darshan at the Kanaga Sabhai, Sekar Babu had a talk with the Dikshithars at the Thousand Pillars Hall. After the meeting, he told the media, “The government is aiming for a smooth solution that makes everyone happy. Action will be taken in accordance with the rules. He added: “Our regime is a joint government of theists and atheists. This is the Dravidian model and the Dikshithars also helped us (the DMK) to come to power. The government treats everyone the same.

Following the Minister’s visit, the Podhu (General) Dikshathars issued a statement which read: “Anti-Hindu and atheist groups have launched a hate campaign, spreading false propaganda against the dikshitars of the Sri Sabhanayagar temple.

In the statement, the secretary of the Dikshithars, CSS Hemasabesa, said, “The Dikshitars conduct the administration of the temple in accordance with the century-old sattam (statutes) framed by the denomination. This was recognized by the divisional bench of the Madras High Court.

“If a problem arises in the administration, the Dikshitars Podhu Sabha takes action. Some Dikshitars who have faced such actions have associated themselves with atheists,” the statement read. Because of this, a false impression has been created about the dikshitar community, he added.

The issues mentioned by the minister regarding worshipers and suspended Dikshitars were issues exaggerated by the propaganda, the statement said. The secretary added that the HR&CE department demanding an investigation into temple accounts was in violation of SC and HC orders. “We filed our objections under Section 107 of the TN HR&CE Act of 1959,” he said, adding that the Dikshitars are not against the HR&CE department.