Court ends Brahmin priests’ monopoly in Tripura temple

By IANS

Agartala : In a landmark judgement, a Tripura court has overruled the decades old practice of only Brahmin priests performing rituals at the famed Tripureswari temple, officials said Friday.


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The 500-year-old Tripureswari temple, 55 km south of here, is regarded as one of the 51 ‘Piths’ (holy sites) of Hindu pilgrimage in India.

“Civil Judge Arindam Pal, referring to a judgement of the Supreme Court, observed that any Hindu who has sound knowledge about the rituals could perform rituals at any Hindu temple,” a government official said.

The court ruling also said non-Brahmins could pray at the temple. The temple was established in 1501 by the then Tripura king Maharaja Dhanyamanikya. It is popularly known as ‘Matabari’.

The verdict was delivered after head priest Binoy Kumar Bhattacharjee moved the court on behalf of other Brahmin priests and assistants staking claim on offerings, including cash, made by devotees at the temple.

“The civil court not only turned down the plea but also curtailed the absolute by only Brahmin priests to perform rituals,” the official said.

The Tripura government bears the expenditure for the temple’s upkeep.

The court, however, bestowed the authority on the temple advisory committee to decide whether they would allow the existing priests to continue with their duties or have a new set.

“The court has given three months to take a decision on the matter,” the official said.

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