CHENNAI: Temples in Tamil Nadu may soon get women priests as the state Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) department has planned to offer archakar (priest) course to all Hindus.
The state would offer training to women who are interested in becoming priests in temples managed by the department, HR&CE minister P K Sekar Babu said on Saturday.
“As all Hindus can become priests, women can also become priests.
After getting approval from chief minister M K Stalin, we will offer training to them, ” the minister said after chairing a review meeting.
The minister said trained non-brahmin priests would be appointed in temples managed by the department by following due processes before the completion of the DMK government’s first 100 days in power.
“We are in the process of collecting details of vacant posts in temples.
The department will soon call eligible candidates, including trained non-brahmin archakars, for interview,” said a senior official.
On the announcement of priesthood training for women, the official said a dalit woman was appointed as priest in a temple in Mangalore city in Karnataka a few years ago.
There are some temples across the country, where women alone are permitted to do poojas as per tradition.
Knowing that the Dravidian party stands for gender equality and social justice, the minister’s announcement to encourage interested women to become priests has not come as a surprise.
It is aimed at breaking a gender stereotype.
“The announcement is nothing but taking forward the idea of former chief minister M Karunanidhi, who wanted to break caste barriers on all fronts,” said Ranganathan, president, Tamil Nadu Government Archakars’ Association.
He was among the 206 people who passed the one-year junior archakars course in 2007-2008.
The course was launched by then chief minister Karunanidhi at six temples  Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchendur, Palani, Madurai, Srirangam and Triplicane.
Two of them were appointed in Madurai and Pudukottai districts, while the remaining have been waiting for more than 13 years for jobs, pursuing legal battles.
Satyabama Ammayar of Satya Baba Trust said Tamil culture and tradition had given priority to women in temples.
But Aryans destroyed native practices and showed discrimination against women.
“We welcome the government’s efforts to restore our tradition and give importance to women,” said Satyabama Ammayar, who has been giving training to women in priesthood.