Rajasthan— The recent appointments of Dalits, tribals, and women as priests in the temples of the Devasthan department by the state government have sparked a heated debate. The Pujari Parishad and Vipra Foundation have expressed their objections to these appointments, urging Governor Kalraj Mishra to intervene and cancel the appointments of non-Brahmins in temples. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party government, under Vasundhara Raje, had initiated the recruitment of servants and priests in temples in 2013, with reservations implemented for these priestly positions.

Objections to the recruitment of non-Brahmins as priests in temples arise due to concerns over traditional worship rituals and the perceived violation of caste-based systems within Hindu Sanatan Dharma. 

Vasundhara Govt initiated the process

In 2014, the Mohanlal Sukhadia University in Udaipur was made the nodal agency responsible for conducting the recruitment examination. Unfortunately, due to unavoidable circumstances, the results of this examination were delayed. However, with the intervention of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot after the Congress government assumed power, the results were finally released in September 2022, nine years after the examination. The successful candidates were then appointed by the Rajasthan government through the Devasthan Department to serve in 22 temples in Jaipur city and one in Udaipur.

What makes these appointments unique is that individuals from non-Brahmin backgrounds, including Dalits and those from backward classes, have been included. These individuals will now undertake the responsibilities of service and worship in these temples. Out of the 35 selected candidates, 14 are male and 5 are female from the general category. Additionally, five men and three women from other backward classes have been appointed, along with one female and one male priest from the Scheduled Tribes. Furthermore, three male and one female priest from the Scheduled Castes have been appointed.

The selected candidates possess educational qualifications ranging from BA, B.Ed, M.Ed to Ph.D. They hail from various districts in Rajasthan, including Churu, Sikar, Bharatpur, Jhunjhunu, Tonk, Dausa, Ajmer, Udaipur, Hanuman Garh, Bara, Alwar, Bikaner, and Sawai Madhopur, apart from Jaipur.

However, the Pujari Parishad and Vipra Foundation have voiced their opposition to the appointment of candidates from SC, ST, and backward classes as priests in the temples. They strongly object to non-Brahmins serving as priests, calling for the cancellation of these appointments. Hemendra Pujari, a senior official of the Pujari Parishad, expressed concerns by stating that every temple follows specific worship rituals, and the method of worship is determined by the caste system.

Each community also has its own designated temples. Pujari argues that the government's recruitment violates the rules of the temples and society. Any further appointments of non-Brahmins will face opposition.

The Mooknayak spoke to Rajesh Colonel, the State President of the Vipra Foundation, to understand their perspective on the protest against the recruitment of priests. Colonel clarified that their opposition is not directed towards any particular community or caste.

Their main concern is that the government conducts sanitation staff recruitment for all classes, but the Harijan community objects to this, resulting in reserved positions exclusively for them. He emphasized that similarly Hindu Sanatan Dharma has its own cultural criteria, similar to how Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs have their respective cultures.

Priests from other religions and cultures are not allowed to worship in their religious places and are guided by their own rules. This established system has endured since time immemorial, making it perplexing why the government is challenging it. The Vipra Foundation has submitted a memorandum to Governor Kalraj Mishra, requesting the Rajasthan government to rescind these appointments.

In response to the controversy, Bhagwanaram Meghwal, the State President of the Bahujan Sahitya Akademi, lauded the Rajasthan government for their commendable step of appointing priests from diverse backgrounds to serve in temples. He noted that this inclusive approach grants women the right to worship and is made possible through the provisions of the constitution.

South leads: Kerala appointed Non-Brahmins & Dalit priests in 2017

In October 2017, Kerala became the first state to appoint non brahmins as priests in the temples administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board. The government appointed 62 priests out of which 36 were non brahmins and six were dalits.

The board has the charge of 1200 temples including the world famous Sabarimala temple.

In 2018, the Tamil Nadu government appointed a non-Brahmin priest after much protest and court cases. The second priest was appointed 2 years later though the government had trained 205 non Brahmin priests during 2007-08.

Dalit youth carried on shoulders inside Hyderabad temple by head priest

In a noteworthy incident from Hyderabad, a Brahmin priest exemplified a profound display of equality by carrying a Dalit man on his shoulders into the sanctum sanctorum of the Chilkur Balaji temple in April 2018.

Aditya Parasri, a resident of the Jiyaguda area in Hyderabad, was the Dalit individual who received the honor of being carried into the temple. The head priest, CS Rangarajan, aimed to recreate a time-honored ritual from Tamil Nadu dating back 2,700 years, known as Muni Vahana Seva.

This ritual, which involved a sage named Loka Saaranga carrying an "outcast" man into the Sri Ranganatha Temple of SriRangam, served as a symbol of unity and inclusivity among all societal sections.

The priest's act garnered widespread acclaim and served as a resolute stance against the prevailing caste discrimination, particularly amidst a backdrop of notable incidents of violence against Dalits in India.