Hyderabad: Around 300 archakas from 200 temples in various districts in Telangana converged in the state capital for a two-day National Shaivagama Workshop aimed at bringing uniformity in temple rituals and practices.
According to Dr P. Nilakanta, assistant professor from Sri Venkateshwara Vedic University in Tirupati, the main objective of the workshop was to bring a uniformity in daily prayer timings, including abhishekhams, common archana practices, deciding thithis, vahana sevas, laksha bilwarchana, laksha pushparchana etc. Many senior purohits and pundits gave lectures at the workshop.
P.Ramalingeshwara Sharma of Telangana Aadisaiva Brahmana Archaka Sangham said that this workshop is the first of its kind in the state of Telangana. He said that the Endowments Department had extended its full support to their initiative.
Telangana Endowments Department, Sri Venkateshwara Vedic University and Telangana Aadisaiva Brahmana Archaka Sangham conducted this two-day programme
Decks cleared for archakas’ wage hike
The wages of 4,800 archakas and administrative staff working at 640 temples across the state will be enhanced and brought on par with the wages of government employees. A GO (No. 121) has been issued by the Endowments Department to this effect.
The authorities have modified an older GO (No. 577) issued on September 15, according to which 5,625 archakas and administrative staff working in temples across the state were to receive enhanced wages.
As per the new GO, the department will regularize 3198 employees working on contract, non-muster rolls, or consolidated pay basis. According to Gangu Bhanumurthy, a member of the JAC of archaks and temple staff, only around 780 employees have been receiving enhanced wages from December 1. Following the issuance of the new GO, all the eligible staff appointed before June 2, 2014, will get increased wages, with arrears.
