Today, can Dalits become Hindu priests?

Priest Job is a heinous Job. Why should we create another priest tradition from Dalits? This tendency is known as Sanskritization in sociology. It comes out of inferiority complex. read more

This is for those who claim, anyone can become a priest, as one does not have to train in Agamas. There are village temples, hardly visited by anyone, in which dalits are priests. There is one subtle cultural point which many miss. read more

Under normal circumstances, the training of 500 Dalit and tribal youth by a conservative religious institution such as the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), with the aim of helping them become priests in Hindu temples, would be hailed as a reformative and a revolutionary step, even in a region that has seen the worst of caste oppression symbolised by the violence against Dalits in Karamchedu and Tsunduru. read more

Earlier, the TTD had conducted several short training sessions for tribal priests in Vedic rituals. But now, the training will be full-fledged with a certificate awarded at the end of the programme. “The TTD will train youths from downtrodden sections of society in temple rituals. read more