Tamil Nadu's second female priest Suhanjana Gopinath takes charge at Chennai temple

MK Stalin has become second Tamil Nu Chief Minister to appoint a female priest. Suhanjana Gopinath, a 28-year-old woman, me helines after Chief Minister MK Stalin appointed her as a female priest /Odhuvar on August 14. She is second woman to become an Odhuvar. Odhuvar is a priest who chants hymns and is placed higher on hierarchy of priests. 

On behalf of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, CM issued appointment orders to 24 educated priests, totalling 208 people from all castes. According to media reports, Suhanjana, who became Odhuvar at Dhenupureeswarar Temple at Mambakkam in Chennai, studied under Karur Saminathan, who insisted that Suhanjana spre message of varam and Thiruvasagam among people. For more than 13 years, trained archakas have been waiting for government jobs.  

Reports also cite Suhanjana Gopinath explaining that her husband and in-laws have been supportive of her decision. educated female priest is also eager to take her child to temple; thus, family considers relocating ir home near shrine. first woman Odhuvar was appointed in 2007 under tenure of previous Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. 

It is important to note that HR&CE department in Tamil Nu now has only two non-Brahmin archakas. Marisamy, first priest, was appointed in 2018 at Murai's Ayyappan temple, while Thyagarajan, second priest, was appointed in 2020 at Murai's Ganesha temple.

‘Periyar’s dream has finally come true': HR & CE Minister

Earlier in ceremony on August 14, HR&CE Minister PK Sekar Babu stated that Periyar's goal has come true. In 1970, EV Ramaswami, better known to Tamils as Periyar, vocated for all cast members to become temple priests, claiming that not allowing m to perform prayers was discriminatory. Discrimination was a "thorn in his heart" for Periyar.

After this, DMK ministration passed a law on subject same year. in 1972, law was challenged in Supreme Court, which decided against it. After taking over in 2006 and granting decree for priests to be engaged at all temples, late Karunanidhi claimed that "thorn in Periyar's heart" h been removed.

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