Perhaps the solution for such controversy lies in implemting flexible restriction for smooth run?
All about the Sabarimala controversy –
Recently, a petition was filed in Supreme Court by the Young Lawyers Association seeking entry for women in the temple premises and keep the temple open to all, to which the court have questioned the temple authorities over the long-run restriction on women with menstrual cycle from visiting the historic Sabarimala temple to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa. Questioning the temple”s tradition, the court said that no temple can restrict women from offering prayers.
The spiritual temple of Lord Ayyappa has been in controversy since a quite long time over its restriction on women in puberty from entering the temple premises and touching the holy idol of god. This has been debated a couple of times in past as well saying why women are kept away from the idol.
Though the temple have maintained the absence of the touch-me-not-ism among the upper castes of Hindus. All are equal before Lord Ayyappa. Even the deity and the devotee are known by the same name – either Ayyappa or Swamy.
The temple has a tradition that only girls before attaining puberty i.e. below the age of 10 and ladies above the age of 50 (senior women) are permitted to climb up the hills to Sabarimala is the practice that has been followed, in respect of Sabarimala pilgrimage. Women between 10 years and 50 years are not allowed in the temple premises as they are under their periodic cycle.
The journey to the top of the hill – involves 41 days of celibacy, cooking one”s own food, wearing all black, not wearing footwear, not trimming or shaving body hair and nails and wearing the sacred garland (mala). The observation of strict reparation, fasting and continence, one learns to control his senses. He gives up his lust and other human desires. One restricts self to attain self realisation.
On the other hand, it is known online casino that Lord Ayyappa was a “Nitya Brahmachari”, hence women in menstrual cycles are kept away from the temple premises. Because, women bleed their impurity in those 4-5 days, temples consider it as unclean and they won”t be able to abide by the rituals of 41 days of fasting before putting their foot towards the shrine.
The modern age
Some-where, our families give us such values and preaching of not to touch religious things when women are in their cycles, as it would make things impure and may affect them in adverse. Women”s constitutional rights are equally important, but #HappytoBleed is not made to applicable all over.
Also Read: Temples can’t keep women out
Women, fighting for rights can also consider the reasons historic beliefs. There are some religious places where women are barred from entering the premises.
To avoid this controversy, the temple establishment have to keep some cooling clauses for women devotees who are willing to give their respect. Fighting for rights by hurting the traditional and religious sentiments would generate more awful circumstances and protests.
Breaking the fence to prove something and breaking the barriers are altogether two different things.
