India News | Two Non-Brahmin Priests in TN Seek Nod to Enter Sanctum, Take Part in Consecration
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Two non-Brahmin archakas of the popular Kumaravayalur Subramania Swamy temple in Tiruchirappalli on Tuesday alleged that they were never allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the presiding deity since their appointment in 2021 and appealed to authorities to take steps for their entry inside.
Chennai, Feb 18 (PTI) Two non-Brahmin archakas of the popular Kumaravayalur Subramania Swamy temple in Tiruchirappalli on Tuesday alleged that they were never allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the presiding deity since their appointment in 2021 and appealed to authorities to take steps for their entry inside.
The two priests, Prabhu and Jayapal, wanted steps to ensure their participation in rituals and associated work for the Kumbabishekam (consecration ceremony) scheduled to be held on February 19, 2025. They were appointed by the government following training under a state scheme to appoint aspirants from all Hindu castes in state-run temples.
In a representation to Chief Minister MK Stalin, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, PK Sekar Babu, and top HR-CE officials, the two priests said they were among the 24 archakas appointed on August 14, 2021.
Since their appointment they were allowed to perform pujas only in the shrines of Lord Ganesa and Navagrahas on the premises of the Kumaravayalur Arulmighu Subramania Swamy temple. "So far we have not been allowed to enter the sanctum of Lord Murugan and perform puja," they alleged in their letter.
Though they were treated with respect by the devotees and they faced no discrimination from people, Sivacharyas "do not permit" them inside the sanctum, the duo alleged. The temple Sivacharyas could not be reached immediately for comment.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)