The Madras High Court, in a recent ruling, emphasized that temples are sacred abodes of deities and should not be treated as training centers or laboratories. Justice S. Srimathy of the Madurai bench made this observation while hearing a case challenging a Government Order (GO) issued by the Tourism, Culture, and Religious Endowment Department.
The challenged GO, dated July 27, 2023, stated that candidates who have completed certificate courses from Archakar Training Schools run by temples under the control of the HR&CE Department would be sent for one-year training under senior Archakas/Gurukals to gain practical knowledge in Agamas. These trainees were to receive a stipend of Rs. 8,000 during their training period.
The petitioners, representing the Thirukovil Sudhanthira Paribalana Sthalatharkal Sabha, argued that the GO was illegal and contemptuous as it did not prescribe the Agamas and rituals of the temples, which was mandatory as per previous High Court orders. They contended that training in Agamas, Vedas, Upanishads, and other necessary rituals typically requires 6 to 14 years, and the state cannot ignore these essential qualifications under the guise of basic training.
The Sabha also argued that both the Supreme Court and the High Court had previously held that Agamic temples should be governed by their rituals and customs, and the impugned GO’s silence on the syllabus and specific Agamas knowledge was an attempt to deviate from these traditions.
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The state challenged the maintainability of the petition, arguing that it was a service matter and an association could not maintain the petition. However, the court rejected this argument, noting that the Sabha was not seeking any appointment against a government post but was challenging the ineligibility of persons to undergo training in Agama temples and advocating for the Shastric rites entitled to the deity of the temple governed by Agama Shasta.
The court observed that the impugned GO interfered with the regular practice followed in Agamic temples and that providing stipends to trainees from temple funds was indirectly issuing appointment orders dehors of Agama. The court opined that the GO was against the dictum laid down by the court, which specifically provided that the appointment of Archakas in Agamic temples should be according to Agamas.
Given that the matter is pending before the Supreme Court, the court directed the authorities to act as per the orders to be passed by the Apex Court and not conduct any training until then. This ruling underscores the importance of preserving the sanctity and traditional practices of temples, particularly in the context of religious training and appointments.
