INDIA, December 21, 2015 (The Hindu): A fresh row is brewing at the Sabanayagar temple, also known as Thillai Natarajar temple, here, over recent constructions undertaken at the premises. Historians and archaeologists are calling for declaration of the temple as a national monument and heritage site to preserve its antiquity, while Podhu Dikshitars, who are the administrators of temple, have expressed apprehension over such demands as they fear it would diminish their fiercely-guarded administrative authority.
The Dikshitars, who claim to be the direct descendants of Lord Siva or Thillai Natarajar, are the administrators of the temple. Only last year, a protracted tussle between the State and priests over temple administration ended with the Supreme Court upholding the rights of the Dikshitars. The new controversy is as much about the way the temple property is being maintained as about new structures that have come up.
A conference of historians and archaeologists recently called upon the Director General of Archeological Survey of India to depute experts to the temple to be declared a national monument and later a world heritage monument by UNESCO. They felt that the temple was being maintained badly. They also regarded as unwanted the recent attempt to erect construction before the eastern gopuram.
However, Podhu Dikshitars stoutly opposed the suggestion of archaeologists and historians. U. Venkatesa Dikshithar said, “We are not against declaring the temple as national monument and heritage site under UNESCO, but under the pretext of declaration, we will not accept the management of temple going into the hands of either Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) or Hindu Religious Department.” They also denied allegations of improper maintenance and damage to architectural structure.