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BHATS IN GOA - II
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Having to choose between marriage and priestly duties many give up the latter and this is one of the many factors for the shortage of purohits in the State
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Marriage becomes a problem as most educated girls are not willing to wed someone who is less educated or educated in a different branch (Vedic education), giving 'Bhat' boys a complex
- Damodar Athalekar, AIR prog officer
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PANAJI: There was a time when purohits were literally married to the temple and priestly families are known to have served deities for generations. This long association seems to be breaking down, albeit gradually, and marriage could be at the heart of the matter.
Young Brahmin boys are turning away from the family profession and are not willing to accept it as the only source of livelihood. “The newer generation is reluctant to embrace this profession for reasons more than one,” agreed Muralidhar Padhye, chief purohit at Shree Shantadurga Kukalikarin Devasthan at Fatorpa.
Padhye's son Ashutosh represents the fifth generation of purohit attached to the Devasthan and is a rare exception to the rule. Despite being a mechanical engineer he willingly followed his father’s legacy which is extended not only to their own Devasthan but the neighbouring villages of Cuncolim, Panjarkhand, Morpirl, Kital, Kudde, Betul, Khede etc.
As most purohits, especially those associated with the Devasthans, are paid not in cash but in kind (coconuts and rice), they find it difficult to run their families.
"Marriage becomes a problem as most educated girls are not willing to wed someone who is less educated or educated in a different branch (Vedic education), giving 'Bhat' boys a complex," admits Damodar Athalekar, programme officer at All India Radio, Panaji.
It is extremely difficult to continue both forms of education simultaneously - Vedic as well as academic, so Brahmin boys have to drop one. Those who undertake studies in a Vedic pathshala and also complete academic education, are in demand in the marriage market. But by the time both forms of education are completed the marriageable age passes.
So the boys turn their back on a priestly vocation and opt for careers as engineers, doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants, teachers etc. Those who are forced by circumstances to continue their family profession or those who are genuinely interested to accept the family profession take up Vedic education only after procuring a valid academic degree. This gives them additional confidence as they have a degree to fall back if their priestly duties do not being in sufficient income.
Vinay Khedekar and his brother Vishwesh Khedekar are engineers. "Our father Gajanan Keshav Khedekar who was in Air Force, undertook priestly duties after retirement as he was well versed with Vedic mantras and rituals but we did not learn them so even if we wish, we cannot continue in his footsteps," said Vinay.
The tendency of leaving the traditional family profession set in years ago even though there are instances of the new generation taking up the vocation.
Adv Manoj Bhandankar is an educated purohit. He graduated in law before his initiation into the priestly vocation by Purushottam Shikerkar Shastri at Kavale Math. Manoj has adopted the family profession willingly. “Respecting the wishes of my late grandfather and father, I have joined our family profession,” he said.
Manoj feels that times have changed for better and now purohits don’t have to live with meagre remuneration as there are ample opportunities to earn a good living. “Goa is a popular wedding destination and thousands of weddings happen each year in five-star hotels which have created a niche clientele for purohits,” he explained.
