Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Dec 22: Karnataka has over 34,200 temples, including more than 210 A grade temples with an annual income exceeding 25 lac. However, authorities are struggling to fill several key posts in most temples, including chief priests, assistants responsible for offering naivedya and carrying the deity’s idol during rituals, and other service-related roles.

Posts such as archaka, agamika, paricharaka, upadhivanta, pachaka, sthanika, homa, shripada, srigandha, firewood and sevadikara staff, as well as those appointed for the recitation of mantras, Vedas, prabandhas and Puranas, are classified as internal temple staff. There is, however, a severe lack of applicants for these positions.

Tantris and agamika priests are required to have passed the relevant Agama Praveena examination from a recognised Sanskrit school, while Vedic priests must have cleared the Veda Pravesha examination from an approved Sanskrit institution. No formal educational qualification is prescribed for paricharakas (assistant priests). Assistant priests are appointed in every temple to handle over 30 responsibilities, including preparation of naivedya, carrying the deity’s idol, mangalarati, gundarati, shantis, ganga-gandha rituals and other temple-related duties.

Many of those currently handling crucial responsibilities such as preparation of naivedya and carrying the utsava murti are senior citizens aged between 60 and 65 years. Though there is no fixed retirement age, it has become difficult for them to continue working due to age-related limitations. Some have expressed a desire to retire, but temple authorities are facing difficulties as there are no replacements. The initial salary offered for these posts is around Rs 11,600, which is considered extremely low under present conditions, discouraging applicants and creating operational challenges for temples.

While low wages are one factor, the younger generation’s growing preference for IT-BT, corporate jobs, business, industry and overseas employment is another major reason for the declining interest in priesthood and archaka professions.

In A grade temples across the state, nearly 40 per cent of chief and assistant priests have either retired or are nearing retirement. Due to low remuneration, there is little interest in filling these posts. Generally, appointments are made based on a fixed pay scale or service commission norms. If the pay scale is revised, new appointments to assistant priest posts may become possible. There is a need for the muzarai department minister to seriously consider this issue.

It has been acknowledged that temples under the muzarai department are facing an acute shortage of chief and assistant priests. In some temples, the absence of priests to prepare naivedya or carry the deity’s idol has become a serious concern. As wages are very low, especially in the coastal region, youth are reluctant to take up these responsibilities, making salary revision essential. The matter will be discussed at the religious council meeting, said Mallika Pakala, member of the religious council.