In ancient temple, a new mantra

PUNE: Two women stepped into the sanctum sanctorum of the ancient Vitthal Rukmini temple at Pandharpur last August and broke a glass ceiling that even they had never imagined possible. The two middle-aged women priests hope to be the beacon of hope for others to chart the same course.
The Vitthal-Rukmini temple located on the banks of the Bhima River broke a 900-year-old tradition to allow women priests to perform the daily rituals.Pandharpur is the most revered pilgrimage destination of the Warkari sect, with over 4 lakh devotees congregating in this town every year.
"It is a huge responsibility. Though I knew the rituals and the scriptures, the thought of performing the puja at the temple was initially intimidating," says Hema Ashtekar, 47, a former school teacher. "Over the last six months, we have received immense appreciation and affection. It feels good to be accepted as priests."
Ashtekar, a mother of two who holds BSc and BEd degrees, was nudged by her husband to apply for the post when the temple trust gave an advertisement last year. The temple and its premises were all too familiar to her, having spent her childhood in Pandharpur.
"I was born and brought up in Pandharpur and the temple has a special place in our lives. But I never imagined that I would one day be allowed to perform the puja for the deity. It came as a surprise and I decided to try my luck," she says.
A Supreme Court verdict had allowed the government-appointed Vitthal Rukmini Temple Trust to decide on the religious conduct at the temple, following which the trust appointed a committee to recruit priests. The committee issued an advertisement and received 199 applications, including 23 from women.
During her interview, Ashtekar was asked to recite the sri sukta and the ingredients and procedure of making the panchamrita. She was selected along with Urmila Bhate, 50, after both of them agreed to work from 3am. Both of them were given training to learn the proper way of draping the idol and the customs of the temple.
"After the selection, we still had to wait for two months because there was opposition (to our appointment) from some quarters. We did not let that bother us. Anyway, why shouldn't women serve Goddess Rukmini," she says.
Her senior colleague, Urmila Bhate, holds a master's degree in Marathi, heads several women's organization in Pandharpur and fights against various social evils. Hailing from a family of priests, she had seen the men perform the rituals from close quarters.
"We are charting a new path and our work will lay the foundation for other women to take up the same responsibilities. Other temples should also allow women priests. Even in Vedas or religious texts, there is no reference to bar women from performing duties in the temple. Why should we hesitate," she says.
Bhate feels that in today's day and age, there is no need for women to feel restricted by traditional customs. "Women who come to the temple say that they are not even allowed to enter some temples. It is a matter of pride for them to see us perform the puja. We are a source of inspiration for many and have to continue our work even if it hurts some people," she says.
"The trust members thought that women have been given 50% reservation in governing council and local self government and are scaling heights in all spheres, why should they not be allowed to be priests. That is why we called for (both men and women) candidates to be the priests," said Anna Dange, chairman of the temple trust.
He, however, is not sure of how long the "experiment" will last."Every government appoints its members on temple trusts. The new government has allowed us to continue till fresh appointments are made. The new committee will decide whether and how to continue the practice we began."