Quoting the Bhagavad Gita and Lord Krishna, the Madras High Court recently said that all living beings are equal in the eyes of God and that there is no room for discrimination in a place of worship while hearing a matter alleging that non-Brahmin devotees were being treated differently during certain rituals at the temple.
Justices G Jayachandran and E Manoharan, while hearing the PIL, referred to Chapter 9, Verse 29 of the Bhagavad Gita, which says: I am equally disposed to all living beings. I am neither partial to anyone nor do I hate anyone. But those who worship Me with devotion, they are in Me, and I am in them.
The High Court, however, recorded the submission of the temple authorities that there would be no discrimination against any section of devotees, including non-Brahmins, in any temple rituals. In the eyes of God, all living beings are equal, and God does not discriminate. Having said that, it is to be noted that the Hon’ble Courts have also held that there is no room for discrimination in a place of worship, the August 17 order read.
The petitioner, a Thenkalai Vaishnavite devotee of Lord Devarajaswamy at Kancheepuram, alleged that the Sri Manavala Mamunigal shrine has two entrances, one main entrance and one side entrance, and that non-Brahmin devotees were allegedly asked to use the side entrance, while Brahmin devotees were permitted to use the main entrance.
He also alleged that non-Brahmin devotees were not permitted to recite hymns in all the shrines and were required to remain outside the shrine while receiving Prasadam and Theertham. He claimed that the non-Brahmins were also discriminated against during certain rituals.
Special Government Pleader R Bharanidharan argued that it is practically impossible to allow the public inside the sub-shrines, which are small structures. He further submitted that the temple administration will not discriminate against any portion of the public in the matter of temple practices and that all members of the public are treated equally.
The court noted that the man has no intention to disrupt any of the traditional rituals that are performed in praise of the deity. Concerning the issue of the recital of the hymns and Pradandham, the court noted that the statement of the authorities concerned suggests that apart from the Adhyabaga Misari, which is a right secured and conferred for the Thenkalai Sect, neither the petitioner nor any other person or any group will be prevented from reciting in any shrines of the temple for their worship.
With these assurances and undertakings on record, the court disposed of the PIL without issuing any further directions.
