The Madras High Court has ruled against caste-based discrimination among devotees in places of worship. The court emphasized that all living beings are considered equal in the eyes of God, reinforcing the principle of equality within spiritual communities.
Justices G Jayachandran and Justice E Manoharan made the observation in an order passed on Monday while disposing of a petition alleging discrimination against non-Brahmin devotees at the Arulmigu Devaraja Swamy Temple in Tamil Nadu’s Kancheepuram. He also alleged that non-Brahmins were prevented from reciting hymns in the temple’s shrines and were made to stand outside the sannathi while receiving prasadam and theertham, without being given satari. In such communications, the Assistant Commissioner had also warned that strict action would follow if discrimination was found in the name of temple custom. I am neither partial to anyone nor do I hate anyone. The temple administration, however, denied there existed any caste-based discrimination at the temple or the shrine.
The alleged discrimination was particularly raised in connection with the 10-day birthday celebrations of Manavala Mamunigal. He also submitted communications issued by the Assistant Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department in 2003, which said that there should be no discrimination between Brahmins and non-Brahmins in the distribution of theertham, satari and prasadam.
The petitioner said this was discriminatory and against constitutional principles. “Before we proceed, it is necessary to extract the following from Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 9 Verse 29 [Translated] “I am equally disposed to all living beings. But those who worship Me with devotion, they are in Me and I am in them.”- Lord Krishna In the eyes of God, all living beings are equal and God does not discriminate,” the High Court said. It said the sub-shrines were small and even service holders could not be fully accommodated inside them. It also assured the court that there will be no discrimination in the distribution of theertham, satari and prasadam and that all members of the public will be “treated equally.”
