Dalit Priests Uphold Temple Traditions in Vallabhi for over 90 Years

 Hyderabad: Just as episodes from the Ramayana — such as Shabari, the tribal devotee; Kevat, the boatman; Sugreev, the Vanara; and Jatayu, the eagle — reflect Lord Rama’s values of compassion, equality and justice, the continued worship led by Dalit priests in Vallabhi’s Sri Ramalayam temple for over nine decades highlights how social exclusion stems from human choices.

The priests have been performing puja, aarti and other ceremonies for over 90 years in this temple at Vallabhi village —a major gram panchayat in Mudigodu mandal of Khammam district.

Anguished by caste-based discrimination and the systematic denial of temple entry to Dalits, Vanguri Ramaswamy and other elders of the Madiga community took a bold step at that time. They built a modest temple of their own in their colony dedicated to Lord Rama.

Vanguri Ananta Ramulu, the third-generation priest of the temple, recalled that Ramaswamy led a devout life, observing Maun Vrat every Monday and serving as the temple’s pujari. Following his death, his son Vanguri Chinamuthaiah took over priestly duties. His grandson, Vanguri Dasarath, opted for farming instead. Today, 29-year-old Ananta Ramulu continues the family’s spiritual legacy.

Trained in rituals and Smartham traditions through a course offered by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in Tirupati, Ananta Ramulu performs temple ceremonies, including the annual Kalyanam of Lord Rama on Sri Rama Navami. His responsibilities extend beyond temple rituals—he also officiates at weddings, housewarming ceremonies and other religious functions, which require scholarly expertise in scriptures and rituals.

Anant Ramulu said he also conducts `Ugadi Sravanam’, Shodashopachara Puja and special pujas in Kartika maasam. He said that people from downtrodden sections visit him to seek good tithi, nakshatra for marriage and other rituals and personal almanac. The temple is undergoing renovation with support from the state government and the local community, totalling Rs 1 crore.

Due to trouble in the village, the shobha yatra on Sri Rama Navami was not allowed for a few years but resumed last year. People from all communities take part in the rally. Vallabhi with over 10,000 population was not influenced by religious conversions due to the involvement of the Dalit community in temple affairs, Ananta Ramulu said.