Even three years after the mass protests that rocked Kerala following a move to allow entry to women of all ages in Sabarimala temple in Kerala where millions of Hindus visit annually, controversies about temple practises refuse to die down.
On November 12, SNDP Yogam (organisation of Ezhava community in Kerala) issued a statement protesting against the customs in the temple that only Kerala Brahmins (read Namboothiris) can become temple priests called Melsanthi and Tanthri in Malayalam. Mr. Natesan said despite a Supreme Court order that all Hindus who have learned temple worship rites have the right to become temple priests, the authorities were turning a blind eye towards the historic judgment. Mr. Natesan’s satatement came on November 12, which is temple entry anniversary day. It was on November 12, 1936 that Hindus of all castes were given rights to enter temples by the then Travancore King Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.
Interestingly though even Nairs are also ineligible to become temple priests as per the existing customs, the Nair Service Society aka NSS has never raised such demand. NSS leaders are mostly conformists wh support status quo and normally don’t oppose Brahmins. If Natesan’s demand is part of a social reform agenda, one need not oppose it.
However, Mr. Natesan is not his old self any more who was vociferous about Hindu unity in Kerala. In his present avatar, he has become a puppet of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Since Mr. Natesan has many cases in Kerala against him, he needs the goodwill of Mr. Vijayan. If Mr. Natesan’s demand to appoint Hindus of all castes as Sabarimala priest is genuine and aimed at reform it is all right. Now non Brahmin priests are there in a large number of temples under Travancore, Kochi and Malabar Devaswom Boards. However, if some others are pressurising him to create controversies and use the window of opportunity intervene in Sabarimala with ulterior motives one needs to be wary.
Sabarimala is a temple where all Hindus and non Hindus had been allowed entry even before temple entry proclamation. So Mr Natesan cherry picking Sabariamala on temple entry proclamation anniversary day to raise his demand for non-brahmin priest at temples raises doubts. Sabarimala is a byword of Hindu unity and unity of all South Indian states. Creating unnecessary controversies about Sabarimala is a communist conspiracy which can’t be allowed.
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