Tamil Nadu Govt Permits Devotees To Enter 'Kanagasabai' In Chidambaram Nataraja Temple

The move of the state comes after the priests, known as dhikshitars in Tamil Nadu, banned people from getting onto 'Kanagasabai'.

Chidambaram Natarajar temple (Credit: ABP Nadu)

Chennai: Tamil Nadu government on Thursday permitted the devotees of Chidambaram Natarajar temple to stand atop ‘Kanagasabai’ (golden platform) and offer prayer within the temple premises. The move of the state comes after the priests, known as dhikshitars in Tamil Nadu, banned people from getting onto 'Kanagasabai' while reopening the temple after COVID-19.

According to ABP Nadu, Tamil Nadu government said, as COVID-19 cases are under control, the temple authorities have started to follow the pre-existing temple rules. 

In this backdrop, the dhikshitars who are running the temple banned devotees from worshipping by standing on the ‘Kanagasabai’. The decision of the dhikshitars evoked widespread criticism and the devotees along with a few outfits staged protests as an objection to the ban, it said. 

Further, the release said, the temple priests also refused to revoke the ban even while the district administration held talks with them. 

Hence, keeping the devotees' plea in mind, Tamil Nadu government ordered to permit devotees on the ‘kanagasabai’.

Meanwhile, 20 priests of Chidambaram Natarajar temple were booked under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 for stopping a Scheduled Caste woman from getting on ‘Kanagasabai’ on February 15, 2022. 

A woman identified as Jayasheela tried to climb on the platform but the priests surrounded and yelled at her. There were also several videos showing the act following which the police took action against the priests.