Oppili Dikshithar, archaka or priest of Sri Kothandaramaswamy Temple at Vaduvur near Mannargudi was allegedly beaten up by Murugaiyan, a clerk at the temple on Monday.
Difference of opinion over sales of silk saris and dhotis offered to the Lord and Goddess in the temple by devotees is said to be the reason for the attack.
Vaduvur police have registered a case and filed an FIR. The injured archaka was admitted to the Mannargudi Government hospital.
V. Srinivasa Desikachariar, Srikaryam of Srimad Aandavan Ashram, condemned the attack in a statement issued here on Tuesday. S. Ranganathan, secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, said that the public auction of silk saris and dhotis periodically may solve problems in dealing with them.
As the clerk Murugaiyan allegedly took the keys of the temple from the archaka after beating him up, the temple could not be opened till 6 p.m. on Monday. Devotees could not have darshan of Lord Rama on Punarpoosam day, the star of Lord Rama, Vaduvur residents said.
