Tamil Hymns Should Be Recited With Those In Sanskrit At Consecration Ceremonies, Says Madras HC

The order was passed while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation that sought the intervention of the court to conduct the consecration ceremony in Tamil at Pasupatheeswarar temple in Karur.

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Chennai: Madras High Court has recently ordered that Tamil hymns/verses should be recited along with those in Sanskrit at consecration ceremonies. 

The order was passed by a division bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and B Pugalendhi while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought the intervention of the court to conduct the consecration ceremony in Tamil at Pasupatheeswarar temple in Karur. 

The judges, according to a report in the Times of India, directed the Tamil Nadu government to constitute a committee comprising Tamil scholars and devotees to identify and consolidate important and ancient Tamil hymns. Based on the committee’s report, the state government could take a final decision regarding the date and time from when consecration ceremonies could be conducted in Tamil, the court said. 

The court observed that it is impossible to believe that God understands only one language because every language spoken by the people is God’s language, said the report. 

The report said that the court observed that different kinds of religions and beliefs exist in different countries and the worshipping place changes as per the culture and religion but local language is being used at these places for doing service. 

According to the report, the court observed that in India, it is made to believe that Sanskrit alone is God’s language and other languages are not equivalent. “No doubt, Sanskrit is an ancient language with enormous ancient literature. The belief is spread in such a way that only if the Sanskrit Vedas are recited, the Gods will listen to the prayers of the devotees.” the court said. 

Explaining that several ancient literatures point out the importance given to Tamil hymns at temples, the court said that it is unacceptable to say that only one language is God’s language and if Tamil hymns are not used at temples in the state, it cannot be used anywhere at all, the report said.