No more discrimination in temples in the use of language
In the name of religion, tradition and
scriptural commands the Brahmin priestly
caste has been discriminating against the Tamils by refusing to allow their language be used in temples for worship and prayer. Now that discrimination comes to an end by a judgment of the Madras High Court.
The Madras High Court on Thursday, 20th March, rejected the pleas, opposing the performance of poojas / archanas in Tamil in Temples, which are under the control of HR and CE.
A division bench comprising Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Justice K. Chandru dismissed the petitions filed by V.S.Sivakumar and M. Pichai Battar, seeking to forebear the state government from interfering with the ceremonies, poojas and mode of performing the poojas, daily rituals of temples by customary traditional mode of worship and also to restrain the government from implementing the Tamil language in the performance of poojas / archanas in the temples contrary to the agamic principles.
The bench said there was nothing in the agamas or in any other religious script to prohibit the chanting of Tamil mantras in the temples. In fact, the present attempt by the state was not to replace either the existing practice nor there was any encroachment into the time-tested practice of rituals and customary usage and practices in the temples in the State.
On the contrary, the choice was vested with the devotees to seek for their archanas to be performed either in Tamil or Sanskrit. This was not a method of replacing the traditional poojas offered but only in addition to the regular poojas performed in the temple, the bench added.
The bench said ultimately it was the devotees or bhaktas who wish that their prayers or wishes be answered by the God and the petitioner cannot interdict their personal egos in the matter of facility being provided to the devotees in the state.
The Bench said if the petitions were allowed to have their own way, the fear expressed by Dr. S.Radhakrishnan in his book, ‘The Hindu View of Life’ would come true. He had written: “To many, Hinduism seems to be a name without any content. Is it a museum of beliefs, a medley of rites, or a mere map, a geographical expression?” If the petitioners’ request was accepted, it would only result in Hinduism becoming a mere museum of beliefs, the Judges said.
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