03-03-2008, 08:05 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> Chennaionline EDITORIAL
What is happening at Chidambaram?
What is happening at the famous Natarajar Temple at Chidambaram?
It is one of the most ancient and most celebrated of shrines in India. It is of great religious as well as historic and cultural significance. Chidambaram is associated with Nataraja, or Shiva in his Ananda Tandava pose (the Cosmic Dance of bliss) in the cosmic golden hall and the hall of consciousness (Chit Sabha). Shiva is also worshipped in the "formless form" of the Chidambara Rahasyam, while the temple is known for its Akasa Lingam, an embodiment of Shiva as the formless Space.
Of all the arts, Dance is the most sublime. It is only in Dance that you cannot separate the dancer from the dance. The creator and the created are the same, inseparable. That is the foundation of Indian philosophy.
The worship protocol here is unique. It is said to have been prescribed by Patanjali. It is an age-old protocol followed for several centuries, in fact from time immemorial. Right or wrong, every temple has a tradition of its own. It is as sacred as the deity itself. The deity gets its divine strength only from the worship that is offered.
<b>The Dikshitars have a case. They dont say that no thevaram should be recited there. They say that according to the prescribed worship protocol, it cannot be recited from the Chitrambala dais. Othuvar Arumugaswami insists that he would render it only from the dais.
The matter went to the court, which directed the government to find a solution. Accordingly the Government considered the matter and endorsed the view of the Asst Commissioner of HR&CE. It was decided that the othuvar can recite it in the temple.
Othuvar Arumugaswami need not have made it an issue. He could have come to the temple like any devotee and paid his obeisance in the way that he wanted to do. After all, prayer is between him and the Lord. He need not have come there on elephant-back , in a procession.</b>
The ordinary devotee is not concerned with this prestige issue. It is the duty of any responsible Government to ensure that the devotees are able to worship in peace.
Ramakrishnan
More Articles Published on March 4th, 2008<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What is happening at Chidambaram?
What is happening at the famous Natarajar Temple at Chidambaram?
It is one of the most ancient and most celebrated of shrines in India. It is of great religious as well as historic and cultural significance. Chidambaram is associated with Nataraja, or Shiva in his Ananda Tandava pose (the Cosmic Dance of bliss) in the cosmic golden hall and the hall of consciousness (Chit Sabha). Shiva is also worshipped in the "formless form" of the Chidambara Rahasyam, while the temple is known for its Akasa Lingam, an embodiment of Shiva as the formless Space.
Of all the arts, Dance is the most sublime. It is only in Dance that you cannot separate the dancer from the dance. The creator and the created are the same, inseparable. That is the foundation of Indian philosophy.
The worship protocol here is unique. It is said to have been prescribed by Patanjali. It is an age-old protocol followed for several centuries, in fact from time immemorial. Right or wrong, every temple has a tradition of its own. It is as sacred as the deity itself. The deity gets its divine strength only from the worship that is offered.
<b>The Dikshitars have a case. They dont say that no thevaram should be recited there. They say that according to the prescribed worship protocol, it cannot be recited from the Chitrambala dais. Othuvar Arumugaswami insists that he would render it only from the dais.
The matter went to the court, which directed the government to find a solution. Accordingly the Government considered the matter and endorsed the view of the Asst Commissioner of HR&CE. It was decided that the othuvar can recite it in the temple.
Othuvar Arumugaswami need not have made it an issue. He could have come to the temple like any devotee and paid his obeisance in the way that he wanted to do. After all, prayer is between him and the Lord. He need not have come there on elephant-back , in a procession.</b>
The ordinary devotee is not concerned with this prestige issue. It is the duty of any responsible Government to ensure that the devotees are able to worship in peace.
Ramakrishnan
More Articles Published on March 4th, 2008<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->