Chennai: All living beings are equal before God, and God does not discriminate, the Madras high court said while directing the govt to ensure that no discrimination is followed in Devaraja Swamigal Temple, including in distribution of the ‘Theertham, Satari and Prasadams.‘A division bench of Justice G Jayachandran and Justice E Manoharan passed the order on a plea moved by Madhavan Ramanuja Dasan. He wanted the court to direct the authorities to prohibit discrimination against the non-Brahmin devotees of Thenkalai cult in the matter of distribution of Prasadam, Theerthams and in reciting Tamil Prabandhams and other practices in the temple.Responding to the plea, special govt pleader R Bharanidharan submitted that there is no discrimination in the temple. Recording the submission, the bench said that the submission can be taken on record as an undertaking that they will ensure that there is no discrimination in the distribution of the Theertham, Satari and Prasadams.Suffice it to say that this would resolve one of the grievances of the petitioner, especially, insofar as it relates to the distribution of the Theertham, Satari and Prasadams, the court said.Insofar as to the issue of the recital of the hymns and Prabandham are concerned, the statement of the executive trustee of the temple is taken on record to the effect that apart from the Adhyabaga Misari, which is a right secured and conferred for the Thenkalai Sect and an important service offered during certain rituals, the petitioner nor any other person or any group will not be prevented recital of Prabandhams in any shrines of the temple for the purpose of their worship, the court said.
