There is no room for caste-based discrimination in places of worship, the Madras High Court recently observed while addressing allegations that non-Brahmin devotees were being treated differently at the Arulmigu Devaraja Swamy Temple in Kanchipuram.
A Bench of Justice G Jayachandran and Justice E Manoharan emphasised that religious traditions cannot be invoked to discriminate against devotees. Reaffirming the principle that places of worship must remain free from discrimination, the Court emphasized that all individuals are equal in the eyes of God
The Bench also referred to a verse from the Bhagavad Gita which states that God is equally disposed towards all living beings and is neither partial nor hateful towards anyone. The observations came while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Madhavan Ramanuja Dasan, a Thenkalai Vaishnavite and secretary of the Thirukatchi Nambi Thirumaladiar Seva Sangam.
The petitioner alleged that non-Brahmin devotees were being discriminated against at the temple, particularly at the shrine of Sri Manavala Mamunigal. It was alleged that the shrine had a main entrance and a side entrance, with Brahmin devotees allegedly allowed to use the main entrance while non-Brahmin devotees were directed to the side entrance.
The petitioner further alleged that non-Brahmin devotees were required to remain outside the shrine while receiving theertham and prasadam and that satari, a ritual object traditionally placed on devotees’ heads, was not placed on them. It was also alleged that they were prevented from reciting hymns at some of the temple’s shrines.
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department denied the allegations, stating that the sub-shrines were too small to accommodate all devotees during religious services. Even members of the Adhyapaka Goshti and other service holders could not always be accommodated inside, the Court was informed.
The temple administration assured the Court that no section of devotees would be discriminated against in the distribution of theertham, satari or prasadam. The Bench recorded this assurance as an undertaking.
On the issue of hymn recitation, the administration submitted that only the Adhyapaka Mirasi, belonging to the Thenkalai sect, had a statutorily protected right to recite hymns during Sathumarai and Seva Kalams. The right carried remuneration and preferential temple honours. However, the administration clarified that this traditional right did not prevent other devotees from reciting the Nalayira Divya Prabandham as part of their worship.
The Court recorded the undertaking that neither the petitioner nor any other person or group would be prevented from reciting the Prabandham at the temple’s shrines. It observed that this arrangement would preserve the traditional rights of the Adhyapaka Mirasi while allowing other devotees an opportunity to recite the hymns.
The Court disposed of the petition after observing that the cited traditions carry no discriminatory impact, relying on the assurances provided by the administration.
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