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In what can be
called a landmark judgment, a court in Tripura has recently
overridden the century old practice of only Brahmin priests
performing rituals at the prestigious Tripureswari temple at
Udaipur in South Tripura districts. The judgment has created a
furor in the Brahmin community of the state.
This historic
decision was awarded by civil judge Arindam Pal. Referring to a
judgement of the Supreme Court, Pal observed that not only
Brahmin, even any Hindu belonging to any caste who has sound
knowledge of the rituals and customs
can perform puja at any Hindu temple. Non-Brahmins could
also pray at the temple, the Court ruling further added.
Earlier the
Head Priest of Tripureswari temple Binoy Kumar Bhattacharjee
moved the court on behalf of the other priests and assistants
all belonging to the Brahmin community, staking claim on the
offerings, including cash, made by devotees at temple. The court
turned down the appeal. However, the court has given authority
to the temple advisory committee to decide whether they would
allow the existing priests to continue or recruit new priest.
The advisory committee has been given three months time to take
a final call on this matter.
If the advisory
committee takes the decision to bring in new priest for the
duties at the temple, it could annoy the large Brahmin community
in the state. For decades, only Brahmin priest have been
offering puja at the temple. The religious leaders feel that if
the present set of priests is removed than it would have an
awful impact on the devotees. "From the days of the
Maharajas it has been the Brahmins who have been priest here and
devotees have full faith on the present priest and on their
knowledge of the rituals. Any change would not be a good signal
for the social fabric of the state" Tarashankar
Bhattacharjee, a Brahmin priest said.
Even the youth
brigade who symbolize modern outlook seems confused on this
issue. "We the people of Tripura are very sensitive about
Tripureswari temple. As a youth I feel Court has not taken a bad
decision because castism is a bad practice but I strongly feel
in this case the Brahmins should continue. This had been the
tradition from the days of the Maharajas. We must not break it
else curse may fall upon the state" said Jayanta Das, a
young entrepreneur.
But the social
thinker feel that the Courts decision is just and if a
non-Brahmin who knows more sastra then a Brahmin then he must be
given chance. "The Brahmins monopoly should give way to
more secular feeling. If it was the case then Brahmins
should not venture to other professions if they feel the
profession of priest is their monopoly. I feel that the
offerings at the temple come from the society and should be used
for the development of the temple premises and if possible
should be used to help the poor. The advisory committee should
in fact go with the court's decision." said J.Choudhury , a
Senior Lecturer at Tripura University.
The
Tripureswari temple, popularly known as Matabari, is situated 55
km south of the State Capital Agartala. It is nearly 500 years
old and was built by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya in 1501. It is one
of the 51 Pithasthans of Hindu Pilgrimage in the Country. Every
year thousands of devotees including foreign tourist visit this
temple, which is known for its divinity. The state government
bears the expenditure for the upkeep of this prestigious temple.
The Brahnims have been engaged here to offer puja right from the
days of the Maharajas.
With
discontentment shimmering among the Brahmin priest over the
court's decision, people in Tripura are now impatiently waiting
to see what the decision the advisory committee of the temple
takes.
September 2007
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