In a suggestion with far-reaching impression, a distinguished Hindu monk heading the Kerala Sivagiri mutt Tuesday stated the follow of males coming into temples after eradicating their higher garment is “evil” and ought to be deserted.
The suggestion was backed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who stated it might flip right into a social revolution.
Swami Sathchidananda, who raised the problem, is the president of Sivagiri Mutt, established by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. It’s also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an organisation established by Guru to propagate his idea of “One Caste, One Faith, One God”.
The mutt is a serious pilgrimage centre of the backward Ezhava Hindu group in Kerala. As a social reformer, Guru fought towards superstitions and championed the precise of these from the decrease caste to enter and worship in temples.
Addressing the inauguration of the annual Sivagiri pilgrimage on the mutt, Sathchindanadan stated, “It’s an evil follow. Prior to now, this follow (eradicating the higher garment) was began to make sure that punool (a sacred thread worn by the higher castes) could possibly be seen. That customized nonetheless continues in temples. Sree Narayana society desires that follow to be modified. There isn’t any doubt that that is an evil follow. In Sree Narayana temples, this follow doesn’t exist. A well timed change is required on this regard.”
Vijayan, who spoke on the occasion, backed the view. “Swami has talked about a message, which might flip into a serious social intervention. The swami has put ahead a suggestion that upholds the noble custom of Guru. I’m positive that many locations of worship will observe this. There isn’t any must compel anybody. It’s a proven fact that many practices have modified in tune with the instances. The temples related to the Sree Narayana motion have adopted that change. I hope different locations of worship (temples) can even observe that change,” he stated.
In Kerala, many distinguished temples nonetheless have a gown code for the trustworthy.
The gown code for girls at temples has been debated in Kerala previously. The Kerala Excessive Courtroom had in 2016 held that girls devotees shouldn’t be allowed to put on salwar kameez or churidars contained in the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram; as a substitute, they should put on a dhoti over their gown (churidar or salwar kameez) to enter.
Whereas the temple govt officer had allowed entry of girls sporting churidar or salwar kameez, with out tying a dhoti, the court docket, performing on petitions from devotees, held that the temple priest is the one authority to alter the customs.
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