The Non-Brahmin Priests of Hinduism

RESURRECTING FAITH

- Devdutt Pattanaik

Under British rule, the notion took hold that the only legitimate priests in Hinduism are upper-caste sacred-thread Sanskrit-knowing Brahmins.

This is absolutely not true. Hinduism has many groups and communities. Different castes and tribes have different gods. Each of these gods have different priests.

Bhopas from Bhil communities are priest-performers who sing the tale of Pabu-ji and invoke his presence in the deserts of Rajasthan. Guravs are traditional managers of shrines in many temples of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Jogammas and Jogappas carry images of Yellamma in the borderlands of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Across Himach-al, the much-revered devatas of the mountains have their own hereditary pujaris and gurs, who do not belong to the Brahmin caste. The Potraj or Pota-raju of Maharashtra and Telangana are heralds of goddesses.

These local priests are being increasingly sidelined as academicians and authorities try to homogenise Hinduism. They are even being seen as “low” caste. Even impure. Even after independence, these traditional priests are not allowed to be spokesperson of Hinduism. A colonial hangover clearly. These priests of Hinduism will tell stories that may upset the apple cart of purity that drives Brahminism.