PANAJI
Outsourcing is not only a buzzword for the business community. In Goa, where purohits (priests) are in short supply, the role of performing the many rituals associated with Hinduism is also being outsourced.
No ceremony, be it a wedding or a thread ceremony is complete without their associated rituals and Goa has now resorted to hiring purohits from the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra to perform these rites.
According to Dattatrey Abhisheki, treasurer, Gomantak Purohit Brahman Sangh, “The reasons for this shortage can be attributed to the distancing of ‘archaks’ (priests) from their traditional, family vocation as it gives no guarantee of fixed earning. There is demand in the society but highly educated youth from priestly families have taken up professions that give a steady income.”
The gap is then filled by Bhat-Brahmins from Kerala, Karwar and Maharashtra, who work as ‘archaks’ in the temples in Goa, either as paid pujaris or not earning any fixed salary.
‘Bhikshuki’ was the family tradition followed for generations, but unfortunately the Brahmin community is fast dissociating itself from it for economic reasons. The remuneration for priests was fixed decades ago and is not in sync with the present times.
“Just 15 years ago, there were temples paying Rs 29 as salary. Naturally, the next generation did not embrace ‘bhikshuki’ as a vocation,” admitted Prasanna Barve, a journalist who doubles as a priest whenever time permits.
“There are a handful of priests who have continued with the profession but make up the financial deficit by undertaking a mainstream profession. But the educated generation is not keen on accepting the family vocation as their sole way of livelihood,” Barve said.
The age-old remuneration for the temple priests fixed centuries ago still continues and there is no enhancement in it though most ‘devasthans’ are well to do. “The ‘archak’, ‘vajantri’, ‘sevekari’ all receive the same old remuneration which is a mockery,” lamented Sandip Tengse, a purohit from Margao.
The reason, why purohits from other states come to Goa to perform rituals here is because the situation in the neighbouring states is worse. “The remuneration received in Goa is much better so Brahmins from Gokarna, Karnataka, Kerala, Yallapur, Kolhapur come here,” said Barve.
But there are Brahmin families in Goa which still take pride in performing priestly duties.
“I am doing it for the past 42 years and our family has been doing it for 110 years. My grandfather was the gram purohit of Mapusa and had 16 Brahmins to assist. I am continuing the family tradition and have 26 Brahmins working with me during Ganesh Chaturthi,” said Raju Kelkar, president, Gomantak Purohit Brahman Sangh that has 1,200 registered purohits out of which 210 are active.
Sachin Apte's family has 150 years of tradition and have 16 Brahmins with them, Ramesh Kakatkar from Corlim-Mapusa has 110 years of tradition and has 8 Brahmins working under him.
“We work with devotion and dedication and chant the mantras irrespective of the monetary status of the host. I get Brahmins whenever people from my village ask them for,” stated Apte who is the gram-purohit of Amone.
Gomantak Purohit Brahman Sangh, established in 2007, has demanded regular allowance from the government. “The traditional flower sellers around the temples get an allowance or the fishermen, toddy tappers and coconut pluckers get a monthly aid from the government, why not us?” asked Sangh president Kelkar who has also taken up the issue with MLAs.
