Mangalore: Widow priests at Kudroli Temple not missing, but on leave - Janardhan Poojary
 
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
 
Mangalore, Oct 28: In the wake of a report in a Kannada newspaper which claimed that the two newly-appointed widow priests at Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple had been 'missing', former union minister Janardhan Poojary on Monday October 28 clarfied that the two widow priests had asked leave for ten days after Dasara celebrations and had not gone missing as claimed.

Addressing media persons on Monday October 28 at the temple premises, Poojary, who is also the managing trustee of the temple committee, said, "We heard various statements in the media and by people that the widow priests had gone 'missing', which is not true. The two priests had asked leave for 10 days and were back on duty last week. As I have said long back, these two priests do not have any restrictions and they can come and go anytime they wish.
 
"We have not put any restrictions on these two widow priests and we will not do so in future. They are welcome to perform puja in others places too if they so wish," said Poojary.
 
Reacting to complaints by devotees that they will not accept Prasadam if the priests do not perform the puja properly, Poojary said, "It is sufficient if the devotee prays with full devotion to god. He or she does not need a mediator."
 
On statements by some people that Poojary does not consult the temple management while taking decisions, he said, "It is true, as said earlier. To bring about a change for the good, I took this decision and no member of the management committee is against the appointment of widows as priests. They have accepted my decision. The whole world has praised this initiative.
 
"No discrimination on the basis of religion, caste or creed will be done in this temple as we have openly accepted the principles of Sri Narayana Guru. We have given full freedom to the newly-appointed widows to perform Puja. So far, one woman has come forward to be a priest and we are training her. Whoever wants to come is welcome, and we will give the training," he added.
 
With the aim of giving importance to women, Poojary also asked chief minister Siddaramaiah to appoint women, especially widows, to offer puja in all the 36,000 temples across the state.
 
Temple management committee members H S Sairam, Harikrishna Bantwal, Padmaraj among others were present.