Three TN Women To Become Priest In Temple, Stalin Praises Dravidian Model

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin said Dravidian Model government removed the thorn from Thanthai Periyar's heart by appointing people of all castes as priests.

DMK government also appointed 38 archakas and eight women othuvars from all castes on Thursday. 

Amid three women becoming temple priests in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin said the feat was possible under the Dravidian governance model on Thursday. The three women priests were appointed after suitable training to become priests under a state program for people of all castes. The three women completed their training at Archakar Training School run by Sri Ranganathar temple in Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli.

On Wednesday, HR &CE Minister PK Sekarbabu presented the course completion certificates to N Ranjitha (25) of Vellamathagu Koradacheri in Tiruvarur district, S Ramya (23) and C Krishnaveni (23) of Mel Adhanur village in Cuddalore district, reported The New Indian Express. 

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Stalin said, "Despite women's achievements as pilots and astronauts, they were barred from the sacred role of temple priests, deemed impure, even in the temples for female deities. But change is finally here!" 

"In Tamil Nadu, as our #DravidianModel Government has removed the thorn from Thanthai Periyar's heart by appointing people of all castes as priests, women are also now stepping into the sanctums, bringing a new era of inclusivity and equality," he said.

பெண்கள் விமானத்தை இயக்கினாலும், விண்வெளிக்கே சென்று வந்தாலும் அவர்கள் நுழைய முடியாத இடங்களாகக் கோயில் கருவறைகள் இருந்தன. பெண் கடவுளர்களுக்கான கோயில்களிலும் இதுவே நிலையாக இருந்தது.

ஆனால், அந்நிலை இனி இல்லை! அனைத்துச் சாதியினரும் அர்ச்சகர் ஆகலாம் எனப் பெரியாரின் நெஞ்சில் தைத்த… https://t.co/U1JgDIoSxb

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 14, 2023

 

In certain temples around the state, women already serve in the role of priest. P K Sekar Babu, the Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, stated in 2021 that after receiving training, women might be appointed as priests in temples.

Ranjitha is a BSc (Visual Communication) graduate while Ramya and Krishnaveni hold MSc (Maths) degrees each.

Meanwhile, DMK government appointed 38 archakas and eight women othuvars from all castes on Thursday.