Ousting priest: Rights panel pulls up Devaswom
Commission seeks explanation why non-Brahmin priest was sacked.
ALAPPUZHA: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has taken up a case in connection with the sacking of a non-Brahmin priest from Kanakari Sreekrishna Swamy temple in Kottayam district on January 30.
The panel has sought an explanation from the Urazhama Devaswom which ousted the priest and performed ‘Bimb-ashudhi, a puja for purifying the idol.
The Kanakari Nair Service Society Karay-ogam said in its complaint that the priest was threatened and ostracised though a Supreme Court verdict had said that a qualified individual from any caste can be a priest in the temple.
The incident is a threat to social equality and justice proclaimed by the Constitution and the promise made in Article 17 to abolish untouchability, the complaint said.
The Urazhma Devaswom which administers the Kanakari temple had proclaimed that priest Jayaprakash was a non- Brahmin and published his name in its notice which was distributed to the public. It claimed that the sanctity of the temple was marred due to the entry of the priest. The notice also said that the temple committee would conduct a Devaprashnam (wish of deity) after performing ‘Bimbasudhi’.
In a case registered with Kurvilangad police by the temple administration, the priest was mentioned as non-Brahmin, the complaint says.
Mr K. Mohankumar, member, KSHRC, ordered the Urazhma Devaswom authorities to submit an affidavit within three weeks. It may be recalled that the NSS had adopted a resolution in 2006 nullifying the appointment of non-Brahmin priests in the temples when the Travancore Devaswom Board decided to select non-Brahmin priests.
“Though every Hindu had a right to hold any post in the Devaswom Board, priestly duties could not be carried out by anyone. Such moves would only result in creating divisions within the Hindu community,” it had said. Later, unfazed by the NSS resolution, the TDB filled up 50 out of 100 posts for priests with non-Brahmins with elementary knowledge of tantra-shastra, Sanskrit and a certificate from a board-approved tantri (senior priest). Currently, 200 non-Brahmin priests are working in the the TDB following SC order in 2002.