Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (SHS)

Mangalore, Oct 1: “Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple took a historic step by appointing widows as priests to perform rituals in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple,” said former union minister Janardhan Poojary at Kudroli Temple on Wednesday Oct 1.

Poojary, citing the rational step taken by the temple, urged the state government led by chief minister (CM) Siddaramaiah to seriously consider the appointments of women and widows to offer ‘Pooja’ and thus uphold constitutional values.

“On the occasion of Mangalore Dasara inauguration, the CM floated the idea of appointing women ‘Archaks’”, Poojary recalled. He further said that he would suggest to the CM to implement this idea in a short span of time. “The state government does not require cabinet approval to realize the concept and if the cabinet gives the nod, the move would be a historic model for other governments to emulate,” added Poojary.

“The Almighty God had never raised any objection to employing women as priests. It is men who have kept women and widows from taking up the job of performing Pooja. To offer Pooja, one needs to possess devotion towards God and not just chants,” he added.