Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday warned 'Dikshithars', the custodians of famous Nataraja temple at Chidambaram, of stringent legal action if they prevented anyone from reciting Tamil devotional hymns inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

The Shiva temple, located about 140 km south of the state capital, witnessed unsavoury incidents on Sunday last when the Dikshitars, a particular clan of Saivite priests, clashed with police while attempting to prevent one Arumugasamy, from reciting Tamil hymns--'Devaram' and 'Thiruvasagam'--inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

Armed with an order of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department and supported by activists of a human rights group, Arumugasamy attempted to recite the hymns at the main shrine of the temple. However, his move was resisted by the Dikshitars on the ground that the pujas should be performed only in Sanskrit and none other than Dikshitars should enter the sanctum sanctorum.

As many as 10 Dikshitars and 34 activists have so far been arrested on the charge of assaulting the police.

Pointing out that action had been taken against both the sides, the government said the case was based on "unnecessary violence" inside the temple premises.

The HR & CE Secretary had earlier issued an order, permitting recital of 'Devaram' and 'Thiruvasagam' inside the temple. As per the order, devotees who wanted to recite the hymns could do so without paying money, the government said in a release.

Those who attempt to prevent the devotees from reciting the Tamil hymns would have to face stern legal action, it had warned.