Goa, Nov. 4 -- The Supreme Court has stayed a Madras High Court order that sought to transfer certain administrative responsibilities of the historic Lord Nataraja temple in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, from its hereditary priests to a five-member supervisory board. The interim decision provides relief to the Podhu Dikshitars, the community of hereditary priests responsible for managing the temple.

The dispute stems from a May 2022 order issued by the Tamil Nadu government, allowing devotees to offer prayers and have darshan from the Kanakasabha, an elevated platform within the temple complex traditionally associated with special religious rituals.

The Podhu Dikshitars challenged the government's decision before the Madras High Court, argui...