Image source: http://mattersindia.com/2018/10/sabarimala-all-one-needs-to-know/
Sabarimala is a temple for the worship of Lord Ayyappa. It
has been visited by pilgrims for more than nine decades and is now one of the most
controversial topics in the news.
For a very long time [maybe
even since the temple was built], women between the ages of 10 to 50 did not enter
the temple. This is what most people think. However, it is partially incorrect.
There was an informal ban on women entering
the temple but it wasn’t always strictly followed. There are records of the
Queen of Travancore entering the temple in 1939 when she was around that age,
and many more such records of women of this age entering during important festivals.
This proves that the ‘ancient traditions
that must be upheld’ aren’t that ancient after all. It was only around the
1970s that women were really banned and now people are using this tradition as
yet another excuse to put down women.
The next point I must make is related to the argument most
people I speak to about this use: It’s a tradition, and breaking it is
offensive to Hinduism. Just because something is a tradition, it doesn’t necessarily
have to persist. Not every tradition is right. For example, untouchability. This
was a huge part of Hinduism, but now it has been forbidden, according to the
Right to Equality in our Constitution. There is one story about an ‘untouchable’,
which I think is very relevant to our topic.
Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanaka_Dasa
When the Udipi Krishna temple was first built, Saint
Madhvacharya had originally installed the Govinda idol facing east, as was the
custom. Kanakadasa, an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, visited the temple. However,
as he was from a low caste, he wasn’t allowed to enter from the main eastern entrance.
Kanakadasa ran to the western side of the temple and pressed his eyes against the
holes in the wall, begging Krishna to appear before him. The idol of Krishna,
impressed by his loyalty and dedication, slowly turned to face him. Thus,
Kanakadasa was able to see Udipi Krishna.
The reason I have written this story out for you is that I feel
that history is repeating itself. A few decades ago, we didn’t allow Dalits into
our temples. Now, aren’t we discriminating against women in the same way?
While women around the world are fighting for equality, I find
it surprising that we women ourselves are protesting against our own right to
enter temples. Take the time when Trupti Desai tried to enter Sabarimala for example.
Hundreds of people blocked her at the airport – and who were most of these
people? Women.
However accomplished we imagine ourselves to be, we are
still close-minded and backward in our thinking if we deny simple rights like these
to equal human beings.
I do not mean to offend in any way by writing this blog. I’m
only expressing my opinions on the subject and hoping that perhaps a few
readers will rethink their stance and maybe even agree with me. Thank you.
