CHENNAI, INDIA, June 10, 2006: the Tamil Nadu government today set up a seven-member committee, headed by retired judge of the Madras High Court Justice A. K. Rajan, to design the curriculum for training and prescribe guidelines to implement its decision to appoint persons from any caste as temple priests. The committee, which would prescribe age and educational qualification for the aspiring priests, would submit its report within two months to the government, an official press release said tonight. The committee members include Kunrakudi Ponnambala Adigalar, Perur Santhalinga Adigalar, Narayana Jeer of Srirangam, Pichai Sivachariyar, chief priest of Pillayarpatti Ganesh temple, and K. Chandrasekar Bhatar of Tiruparankunram temple. T. Pichandi, Commissioner, Hindu religious charitable department, would be member secretary of the committee, the release added. The DMK government had issued orders on May 23 enabling persons of all castes to become temple priests, fulfilling a poll promise of the party.
HPI adds: Sri Pichai Sivachariyar, Hinduism Today’s “Hindu of the Year” for 2004, runs one of South India’s foremost priest training schools. It already accepts non-brahmins for the multi-year courses. A story on him and his school is here.