Arumugasamy renders Tamil hymns in Chidambaram temple

Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, Mar 6 (UNI) Tamil poet Arumugasamy, released from the Cuddalore sub-jail yesterday, recited Tamil hymns on the Thiruchittrambalam stage of the famous Lord Nataraja temple here, marking the peaceful rendering of the hymns in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple for the second day today.

Five advocates of the Human Rights Protection Centre (HRPC) accompanied Arumugasamy. After reciting the hymns, he left the temple without waiting to accept the respects offered by the dikshidars (hereditary priests).

The dikshidars, who had stoutly opposed Othuvars rendering Tamil hymns on March 2, which resulted in violent incidents, made a volte face yesterday after the Tamil Nadu Government warned them of legal action.

Police had registered cases in connection with the violence and arrested 12 dikshidars, Arumugasamy and 34 of his supporters and lodged them in the Cuddalore sub-jail. Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who chaired a high-level meeting at the State Secretariat in Chennai yesterday, ordered the release of all those arrested.

Volunteers of the HRPC, Farmers Liberation Front and Makkal Kalai Ilakkiyam took out a procession and garlanded the statue of rationalist leader Periyar E V Ramasamy after bursting crackers to celebrate what they called ''victory of Tamil''.

HRPC Convener Rajee told newspersons here that it was a victory for Tamil and thanked Mr Karunanidhi for making it possible. They would soon organise a function to felicitate Mr Karunanidhi.

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