CHENNAI: When Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin distributed the appointment orders for priests in the state’s temples a day before Independence Day, described it as the fulfillment of the dream of Dravidian movement founder EVR Periyar for over eight decades Gaya, who raised the demand for his daily ‘Kudiarasu’ on 8 August 1937.
The move sparked widespread celebrations among Periyars as it was considered a much-awaited law to free Hindu temples from Brahmin domination, an object of the Dravidian movement.
Ironically, this move fulfills the principles of Hindu sages like Sri Ramanuja Acharya and Swami Vivekananda who wanted to ensure temple worship for all communities. It also removes a major premise cited for conversion from Hinduism to other religions such as Christianity and Islam that allow people of all communities to become priests.
Saiva scholar MP Satyavel Muruganar said the government’s move does not indicate a change or deviation in the existing religious practice, but a restoration of the tradition. The practice of designating only Brahmins as priests was enforced by the Vijayanagara emperors, who occupied Tamil Nadu in the 16th century. There was no such discrimination before he said, and denied that there is any ‘agama’ which states that Brahmins alone can be made priests of the temple.
“Any person who receives ‘thichai’ from Shivacharya can be a priest and does not have a caste qualification,” he said. Citing an example from the Thiruvilayadarpuranam, a highly regarded Shaivite work describing the history of 63 revered sages of Shaivism, he said, “Appudhi Adigal, a Shivaacharya by birth, belonged to the Saiva Vellalar community by saint Thirunavukkarasar”. .
In classical Sangam-era poems the priest is described as Muruga The temples perform a ritual called ‘Vellan Veriyattam’. The priest performed ‘Mari Aruthal’ (sacrifice of goat) and ‘Kuruthi Thuval’ (sprayed its blood). The non-vegetarian priests of those days were not the same as the Brahmin priests of the six abodes of the same deity in Tamil Nadu.
The first attempt to appoint temple priests of all castes was made by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in 1970, but it failed through the following. Supreme court Decision. But, in 2015 a judgment of the apex court by a bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice NV Ramana gave a new life to the much-awaited temple reform, when it observed that there should be no inclusion or exclusion as per the ‘agama scriptures’. On the basis of criteria of caste, birth or any other constitutionally unacceptable barometer.
Following the verdict, the Kerala government overtook the Tamil Nadu government in appointing priests from all castes, including Dalits. Tamil Nadu became the second state to implement the reform, but this progressive law has been challenged in the Madras High Court on the grounds that the Agamas governing temples should appoint priests on the basis of rules. Advocate C Raju differs, saying that only rituals can be governed by Agam rules, “The appointment of priests by the government should be based on law that ensures equality and there can be no discrimination on the basis of caste or birth.” is,” he said.
The DMK government’s Archana Act is a bizarre case of rationalists carrying out the teachings of Ramanuja, a revered Hindu saint, who offered ‘thichai’ to all communities. No political party, including the main opposition AIADMK, opposed the move. It was AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran who appointed the Maharajan Commission, which recommended that people of all castes be appointed as Archakas. The BJP also welcomed the appointment of trained priests in temples.
However, a section of priests had approached the Madras High Court. Reacting to the opposition, Kolathur Mani, founder of Dravida Viduthalai Kazhagam, said, “Agamas bar ‘smarts’ have been barred from entering some famous temples like Nellaiappar temple, but they are working as priests in some temples. who prevent their entry.
The opposition to reforms in Hinduism would have been more intense during Vivekananda’s time as he said, “The fleshless and bloodless skeletons of the corpses of past India, …. on your bone fingers are some priceless rings of jewelry placed by your ancestors.” , and within the embrace of your stinking corpses are preserved many ancient treasuries. Till now you have not had the opportunity to hand them over. Skeletons of the past, before you, are your heirs, India which is to be. Throw those jewels between them…. You will disappear as soon as you hear the opening slogan Renaissance India”
(The writer is a freelance journalist)
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