mangalore today

CM promises to consider appointment of women in temples


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 29, 2014: Inaugurating Mangalore Dasara and Navarathri festivities at Kudroli Gokananatha Temple here on SEPTEMBER 27, Siddaramaiah said that women priests will be appointed for Muzrai temples if there are no objections.

Siddaramaiah"I will think of the proposal regarding appointing women priests for Muzrai temples. I hope there will be no objections to the proposal. If there is no objection, then I will make arrangements to appoint women priests on an experimental basis," said CM Siddaramaiah in reply to the request made by Kudroli Temple chief and former Union minister B Janardhan Poojary.

Earlier, Poojary had explained about Kudroli Temple, which appointed two widows as archaks. He suggested Siddaramaiah to follow suit in Muzrai department.
Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple that appointed widows as archaks will soon be a role model for the state Muzrai department. Chief minister Siddaramaiah said that women priests will be appointed for temples under Muzrai department in the state on an experimental basis.

Lauding Poojary’s initiatives of appointing widows as archaks, Siddaramaih said, "We must start respecting women, if we really want to protect women from discriminations and atrocities. God has never shown discrimination in the name of gender, caste or religion. It is the duty of the society to fight for the rights of women."

"God has no religion, but people offer prayers in different ways according to their faith. Brahmashree Narayana Guru, who fought against caste discrimination, has advocated the philosophy of ’one caste, one religion and one god’. Narayana Guru, who founded temples for those who are denied entry into temples, is a visionary," Siddaramaiah said adding that he has offered prayers before all deities at Kudroli Temple for the welfare of citizens.

Siddaramaiah offered prayers to idols of Navadurga and Sharada installed as part of Mangalore Dasara/Navarathri festivities and to the presiding deity at Kudroli Gokananatha Temple