Trained at Kundaim institute, women priests reaffirm authority at tulsi lagna

Margao: After entering the male bastion of priesthood a few years ago, women priests — cutting across caste and class barriers — have now added a touch of finesse to their newly acquired vocation. The ever-increasing demand for women priests for conducting tulsi lagna or tulsi vivah, held earlier this week, only demonstrated society’s welcome approval of the trend.

From homemakers to teachers to students, these women were trained to offer their services in conducting pujas and rituals for various religious ceremonies. The women priests underwent training at the Purohit Pratishthan of Shree Kshetra Tapobhoomi, Kundaim, the headquarters of the Padmanabh Shishya Sampradaya.

The women trained at the institute belong to various classes of society and varied backgrounds.

At Shree Kshetra Tapobhoomi, women priests conducted the rituals as the institution’s faith leader Swami Brahmeshanand Acharya extolled the virtues of a woman and her role in protecting dharma in the nation’s history.

On the occasion, Brahmeshanand said, “Tulsi vivah is not merely a religious tradition but a profound symbol of our reverence for nature and the divine. It reminds us of our responsibility to preserve our cultural and ecological heritage.”

“The atmosphere was filled with devotion as the chants of bhajans and kirtans resonated across the area, adding a divine aura to the occasion,” a spokesperson for the Tapobhoomi said. “The event also highlighted the empowerment and significant contributions of women in spiritual and religious practices.”