From periphery to sanctum sanctorum: a long journey for some new archakas

Many who have been appointed priests suffered for long before a new dawn broke

C. Muthu Irulan always had a passion for performing pujas at temples. Born in the community of potters who perform pujas at Ayyanar temples, he underwent training for priesthood and worked as a priest. Later he joined the archaka course at the Madurai Meenakshi temple conducted by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department in 2007. The course was launched by the DMK government that year. After working as an archaka at a few temples, including the Puttuthoppu temple, he was appointed on Saturday as the archaka of the Balathandayuthapani temple on Melamasi Veedhi in Madurai.