Sad turn of events in the holiest Sabarimala Ayyappa temple

Sabarimala temple in Kerala is one of the holiest of the temples in India, This temple of great importance observe some strict regulations of which one is the restriction on women in certain age group from visiting the temple. The restriction is not on girl children or elderly women.

This tradition of restricting the women’s entry in certain age group has been banned by Supreme Ciourt terming the practice as discriminatory and not doing gender justice.

All over the world, traditional practices are followed over centuries ,since the devotees believe in such practices out of faith and irrespective of the fact whether they are logical and scientifically appropriate at the present time.

For example, in the case of Sikh religion, for entering Gurudwara, the devotees have to cover their head. In the case of Islam religion , millions of innocent goats are being slaughtered at the time of Bakrid festival . In Islam religion women are not allowed to pray in the mosque along with men. In christianity, there is discrimination between men and women in holding positions in the church. No woman can become a pope.

There are many temples in India like Attukkal Bagavathi temple in Kerala where women alone can enter the temple and men are not allowed.

Sabarimala temple in Kerala alone, which has lakhs of Hindu devotees , is being targeted by the so called “activists and reformists”

In the case of Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala in Kerala, restrictions do exist in the case of women of certain age group entering the temple. However, there are so many other temples for Lord Ayyappa in India and abroad, where women of all age groups are allowed free entry. Therefore, it should be recognized that there is no anti women sentiments in Lord Ayyappa temples.

It should be noted that the practice in Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala is not against women as such but only women in certain age group and therefore, it cannot be considered gender injustice in anyway. Entry of women are not banned for their entire life time. Women of all age group are free to visit and pray in any other Lord AYYAPPA TEMPLE any where else in the world at any time..

Let Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala should remain out of reach of the politicians , the so called “activists” and the “women crusaders”and the judges .

Itappears that the judges have been hasty and Sabarimala devotees are well justified in defending the traditional practices.

Supreme court should correct it's verdict as early as possible.

N.S.Venkataraman

Nandini Voice for The Deprived

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