Author:
Publication: ChennaiOnline.com
Date: May 20, 2006
URL: http://www.chennaionline.com/columns/variety/2006/05priests.asp
The Tamil Nadu government has decided to issue
an order allowing all persons in the Hindu community, with the required training
and qualification, to become archakas (priests) in temples.
The Cabinet, which met with Chief Minister
M Karunanidhi in the chair, took the decision based on the verdict given by
the Supreme Court in 2002.
The decision was taken after considering the
opinion of the Legal Department and the Advocate-General on the issue.
At present, only Brahmins are eligible to
become archakas, though there are non-Brahmin archakas in village temples
and in Amman temples in cities.
The government order will mark the fulfilment
of the last wish of social reformer and Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar
E V Ramasamy.
A government order was passed in 1972 allowing
all members of the Hindu community to become archakas when Karunanidhi was
the Chief Minister then.
However, it was stayed by the Supreme Court
following an appeal against the implementation of the law. Periyar passed
away without seeing his last wish fulfilled.
Political parties have welcomed the decision
of the presente DMK government. Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani expressed
happiness at the order.
Subramanian Swamy of the Janata Party welcomed
the DMK government decision, and said it had been a long-standing demand of
the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. At its recent conference at Erode, a resolution
in this regard had been adopted, he said.
However, the archakas must be trained and
taught Sanskrit, he contended.
Expressing happiness over the decision, state
president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, R R Gopalji, requested the government
to set up a college providing training in temple worship methods.
PMK founder S Ramadoss said the DMK government
has fulfilled the dream of rationalist leader Periyar. The PMK leader requested
the state government to initiate measures for the use of Tamil language for
worship in Hindu temples.
However, the Tamil Nadu Archakas Welfare Association
opposed the decision saying it was against "the fundamental right to
practice one's religion". President of the association, S Arunachalam,
said the decision on archakas was against the verdict of the Supreme Court
and 'Agama principles'. (Agencies)
