Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
RAJASTHAN, INDIA, July 19, 2009: The movement to bring Dalits into the priesthood is gaining steam in India. Following the lead of the Tirupati Devasthanams (TDD), The Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University is setting out to train Dalits as priests.
Last year, Tamil Nadu’s state-run priesthood training institute graduated 207 priests, including 76 OBCs and 34 Dalits. They are now getting inducted into some of the 36,000 temples run by the government, under a 69% job quota for backward castes Dalit priests. This came as part of the DMK government’s 2006 order that all qualified Hindus, regardless of caste, would be allowed to become priests.
Rajasthan’s new priesthood training is a one-year diploma program. Pundit Yugal Sharma, the vice chancellor, says: “Admissions are on and classes start next month. The only prerequisite is clearing the senior higher secondary exams.” The university will turn out at least 50 qualified priests per year.
Sociologist Shiv Visvanathan sees reason for concern in the transition of priesthood training from gurukul to universities. “It looks progressive, but how it affects the sense of sacredness and morality of the priesthood is to be seen.”