Female Sanyasins to Conduct Pooja and Rituals at Santhigiri

Pothencode : From now on, female sanyasins will be able to conduct pooja and rituals at Santhigiri Ashram. The Guru has given permission to some senior female sanyasins of Gurudharma Prakash Sabha to perform pooja and rituals in Santhigiri branch ashrams from this Vijayadashami. They are Janani Abheda Jnana Thapaswini, Janani Pooja Jnana Thapaswini and Janani Anavadya Jnana Thapaswini. Janani Pooja Jnana Thapaswini is the caretaker of Santhigiri Ashram New Delhi Saket Branch, Janani Anavadya Jnana Thapaswini looks after Bangalore Sarjapur Road Branch Ashram and Janani Abheda Jnana Thapaswini is posted at Wayanad Sultan Bathery Ashram. This is not the first time a sanyasini conducts pooja and rituals in Santhigiri. The present Guru Apparent Abhivandya Sishyapoojitha Amrita Jnana Thapaswini used to do this kind of pooja and rituals in the presence of Guru before.

India has a tradition of accepting women in all spiritual performances. Women in India has a hallowed status. Women were given due recognition and respect in all priestly rituals. Both husband and wife should be present along with the main priest during the Vedic sacrifices. In ancient times, women, who were known as Vedavahinis, held equal status with men in Yaga and Yagna. Gradually, due to the supremacy of Vedic priests, women began to be excluded from such divine activities. Women, the carriers of the Vedas were being relegated to the status of Devadasis.

Navajyothi Sri Karunakara Guru, the Founder Guru had envisioned that the progress of the society is possible only through the advancement of women, and if women are good, the family, society and country will be good. In 1984, Santhigiri Ashram had 31 sanyasins out of which 21 were women. At present, 48 of the 105 members of Santhigiri Ashram Gurudharma Prakasa Sabha are females. 26 girls were initiated into Brahmacharya Deeksha at the Sanyasa Deeksha Ceremony held recently in Santhigiri. At present the number of Brahmacharinis has become 38 with this.

The Tamilnadu government recently issued an order recognising women as priests. Ma Linga Bhairavi Temple is located in the city of Coimbatore where worship is conducted by women priests. Here women are also allowed to enter the Sanctum Sanctorum inside the temple. Those who perform poojas at Ma Linga Bhairavi Temple are known as Bhairagini Ma and Upasika. The Mannarasala temple in Kerala has women as priests.