‘God doesn’t discriminate’: Madras High Court invokes Gita on equal temple access

The Madras High Court has ruled that all living beings are equal in the eyes of God, according to the Bhagavad Gita, and that there should be no discrimination in a place of worship. In a recent case, the court heard a petition alleging that non-Brahmin devotees were being treated differently during certain rituals at the Kancheepuram temple.

Justices G Jayachandran and E Manoharan referred to Chapter 9, Verse 29 of the Gita, which states that God is neither partial to anyone nor hates anyone. The court acknowledged the temple authorities' claim that they had no intention of discriminating against any section of devotees, including non-Brahmins. The court also noted that there was no room for discrimination in a place of worship.

The petitioner, a Thenkalai Vaishnavite, alleged that non-Brahmin devotees were asked to use a side entrance and were not allowed to recite hymns in all the shrines, while Brahmin devotees were permitted to use the main entrance and recite hymns. The court recorded the temple authorities' submission that there would be no discrimination against any section of devotees in any temple rituals.

The court also noted that the authorities had assured that non-Brahmins would not be made to stand outside the shrine and would be allowed to recite hymns in all the shrines. The court dismissed the petition without issuing further directions.