Non-Brahmin priests appointed in Madurai temples
Editorial comments
|
Chennai – Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s decision to appoint non-Brahmin priests in temples in Tamil Nadu has sparked controversy. “We have made this decision with a view to delivering social justice”, Stalin told the Legislative Assembly. At the time of appointment of new priests of all castes, none of the priests currently serving in the temple will be sacked and if such a thing happens, action will be taken against the concerned, said Stalin
DMK Govt pushes scheme on non-Brahmin priests at Hindu Temples.@nimumurali reports.https://t.co/qrzm6AwCNt
— News18.com (@news18dotcom) August 15, 2021
1. Before CM Stalin, Minister of State for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) P.K. Sekar Babu had said, ‘Brahmin priests were not targeted. No rules have been violated in the appointment of priests of all castes in all the temples under my purview’.
2. Some Brahmin priests have alleged that their service was abruptly terminated on 16th August and other priests had been appointed in their place. Responding to this allegation, P.K. Sekar Babu said that some Hindutva forces, who do not want other people to go ahead in life, are running such a campaign.
3. In the Meenakshi Amman temples at Madurai, non-Brahmin priests P. Maharajan and S. Arun Kumar have been appointed. They were trained to become a priest in 2007.
4. Of the priests appointed by the Tamil Nadu Government, 24 have undergone training to become priests from the State Government-run centres, while another 34 have undergone such training from other schools.
Varna is not based on caste, but virtues – Dr. Subramanian Swamy
‘One who has studied Agam Shastra becomes a Brahmin. Read the Gita to know the concept of Varna. According to Lord Krishna, Varna is not based on caste but on virtues’, Dr. Subramanian Swamy said in a tweet.