With the launch of ‘Annai Thamizhil Archanai’ (prayers in Tamil) scheme, pujas will be performed in Tamil at 47 major temples of Tamil Nadu from now on. The scheme was launched by the Tamil Nadu minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) PK Sekarbabu at Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore in Chennai on Thursday.
The minister said that the facility was launched formally by the chief minister a few days ago. "Under the scheme, priests would chant mantras ‘potris’ in Tamil based on the request of devotees," the minister said as reported by The Hindu.
The scheme will initially be launched in 47 major temples in the state and it will be expanded to other temples as well based on the demand, the minister added. He said booklets including as many as 14 different ‘potris’ were already prepared and distributed to a set of priests.
Usually, mantras would be chanted in Sanskrit at the temples in the state. ANI has quoted the minister saying that the present system of chanting mantras in Sanskrit will not be disturbed in any manner.
According to The Hindu, the minister said that the idea to introduce the scheme was initially mooted by former chief minister M Karunanidhi in 1971, the then HR&CE minister Kannappan had even made an announcement and a circular regarding this was sent to temples in 1974.
During a discussion about performing pujas in Tamil in 1998, Karunanidhi had said that ‘potri’ would be performed in Tamil for devotees who ask for it.
To a query regarding kumbabishekam, the minister said, if a majority of devotees demand it, if it does not hurt the sentiments of the people and if the ‘agamas’ permit it, Kumbabishekam would be performed in Tamil, as well, the Hindu said.
Eom.