The temple priest identified as Giridharan at the Karaneeswarar Temple in Saidapet, Chennai who was newly appointed under the DMK government’s ‘All Castes Can Become Priests’ scheme, performed pooja in violation of the Agama rules.
On August 14, after the completion of the Arthajama pujas at the Sivasubramaniyar shrine in the temple, the newly appointed temple priest by the DMK government performed deeparathana (aarti) at the behest of the HR&CE department officials of the temple.
The Sivachariyars have now risen in protest against the DMK government’s anti-Hindu move to disturb temple customs in order to peddle their political ideology.
Saminathan, Chennai district coordinator of the Tamil Nadu Sivacharyas Social Welfare Association, was quoted saying in a report by Tamil daily that the Sivachariyars undergo rigorous training from a young age at patashalas away from their home families. “We’ve been studying Veda mantras and Agamas for years to get a livelihood. But the government’s actions has robbed us of our livelihood. We don’t even get a job or seat in government institution even if we get 90%”
He said that the government is trying to decimate the Sivachariyar community by bringing in people from other communities as priests in age old traditional temples.
Many Sivachariyars who are a miniscule minority in Tamil Nadu have alleged that the DMK government’s move would serve as a death blow to Hindu faith.
The temple authorities had reportedly responded to the allegations of Agama rule violation saying that the Sivachariyars are levelling false allegations as they did not like the new priest.
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