SIVAGIRI: Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust President Swami Sachidananda criticized Tantris who went on strike protesting the appointment of an 'Ezhava' community member to the 'Kazhakam' (garland making and associated works) in Koodalmanikyam temple.

The OBC member joined the temple for the 'Kazhakam' work through the Dewaswom Board. However, the temple tantris from the upper caste refused to perform poojas for several days he was appointed. Swami Sachidananda was speaking against this.

He said that the person who belongs to OBC in question did not even come to do the priestly work. He came for Kazhakam work, which consisted of making garlands for use in poojas. Those who uphold such outdated exclusionary norms should be enforced with the reformist practices of Bodhananda Swami's Dharma Bhata Sangha. Caste-based discrimination and such practices are stated as a crime in the Supreme Court. However, some Dewaswoms are still practicing such discriminatory attitudes based on caste. They don't know it will eventually lead to their own destruction. They should remember that they, upper castes included, got to this present position due to events like the Aruvippuram Prathishta by Sree Narayana Guru. If such an event hadn't happened, Hindus would have become a minority.

The individual from the backward class was removed from his position, and purificatory rituals were performed by the temple. In reality, purification is needed in the hearts of those who did it. The government should punish those who uphold such outmoded practices and did not even respect the court order in an exemplary manner.

The lion's share of the money received for pooja and donations in temples comes to the backward classes. The backward classes should be ready to boycott temples where discrimination is still practiced. The backward classes need only visit other temples where God resides, especially those run by the Sree Narayana movement. Swami Sachidananda said that he will pray for those who remain in the dark, even if the dawn has come.

Action should be taken against the Thantris: Ezhava Reform Committee

The State Ezhava Reform Committee meeting demanded action against the Thantris of the Koodalmanikyam temple who had expelled the Ezhava member who had entered the kazhakam job through the Devaswom Board. The approach of treating the Ezhavas, who constitute 28 percent of the population, as slaves even today without knowing that those times have changed cannot be tolerated. Even when they talk about progressivism and secularism, the minds of many are still centuries behind. The state committee meeting said that such nonsense will not be accepted and that they will fight strongly against inequalities. State President Vakkom Manoj presided over the meeting. Petta Shaji, Kaniyapuram Jayakumar, Kollam Sudarshanan, Kochupalam Santhosh, Kottayam Sudhakaran, Palakkad Shibu, and others spoke.