KATHMANDU, NEPAL, December 30, 2008: The government’s decision to sack South Indian priests from the Pashupatinath Temple in the capital has sparked a row in Nepal, with the main Opposition party accusing the Maoists of hurting “the religious sentiments” of the Hindus in the country.
The Nepali Congess, the second largest party in the country, has raised serious objections on the Maoist-led government’s move to remove South Indian Brahmins from capital’s famous Pashupatinath Temple, one of the eight holiest Hindu shrines, and appointing local priests in their place.
Nepali Congress (NC) alleged that it was done in a hurry without going through proper process and formalities.
“The way Maoist government replaced the priests serving at the Pashupatinath Temple without fulfilling any formality has hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu people of Nepal,” said NC chief Laxman Ghimire in the Parliament yesterday.
[HPI note: These priests are Saiva Brahmins from Koteswaram in Kundapura Taluk, Karnataka’s western coast about 100 km from Mangalore.]