THE Ram Temple Trust’s decision to establish a permanent institute for training and certifying Hindu priests is being seen by religious leaders and members of the Indian diaspora as a significant step towards addressing the growing demand for qualified ‘archaks’ (priests) not only in India but also overseas. The proposal on July 22, following a meeting of the Trust in Ayodhya, envisages a dedicated training centre, where priests will receive formal instruction in the performance of Hindu rituals before being certified by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The announcement was made by Trust interim general secretary Krishna Mohan and treasurer Govind Dev Giri.

 

The decision came alongside the Trust’s announcement of a nine-member committee of prominent seers to oversee the religious affairs of the Ram temple, following recent controversy surrounding alleged donation theft. Ayodhya Ram Temple to train and certify Hindu priests AYODHYA, July 26 (IANS) IN LINE with the Supreme Court’s instructions, Uttar Pradesh Government has reconstituted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for investigation into alleged irregularities of donations and offerings made at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple. The newly-constituted SIT includes three senior IPS officers, with Inspector General (IG) Kiran S heading the team.