This practive is there before the actress has started believing the swamy, if she does not like the practices, she should not have started praying the swamy. Her intention is to come in news, being "past tense" in cine field and no one is worried about her, she is making all the fuss. These things should have been ignored by the media. Temple authorities are not saying that women are not human being. They are saying that women at certain age should follow the procedure of the temple. Women are very much involved the pooja programme. Author has to apology for insulting the temple by calling "Aren't women human beings?". Media should concentrate on issues useful to society, not on sensalisation of issues and insulting the practices of people. Better they mind their business.
What I have come to know is that the distance between the shrine where the idol is kept and the place from where the devotees are allowed to pray is almost 12-14 feet away. It is nigh impossible that with jostling she would have been pushed and entered the sanctum sanctorum where the idol is kept and toch the diety's feet. What about the staff who stand near the sanctum sanctorum ? I dont think they would allow anyone least of all a woman to to touch the diety's feet.
Again it is a question of respeting the tradition of the temple which has been followed for ages. It is not a question of woman being human beings in front of god. It is a question of faith. Why doesn't she taolk about a temple in Tamil Nadu where only the women are allowed to enter.
Just to garner publicity she has raised an unnecessary issue.
There are other more pressing issues in our country to tackle then this one.
Women are human beings not just before GOD but before the men too.There has to be no denial in that.But this topic has no link with the actress' entry into Sabarimala temple.If it is being followed for a long time,then it should not be broken.There are few things which,if we don't question,doesn't stop life from going on.If it is really to be tested,let the government come up with a rule to allow all women into Sabarimala temple.If the GOD is unhappy with that,the untoward incidents will automatically start happening.But do we want to take that risk?Decide.
This is totally an injustice .The land where Durga/Kali,saraswati,Lexmi etc are being workshipped by all(male and female),Poojas performed by male .It is totally meaningless that woman shouldnt enter temples such as sabarimala etc.earlier people of lower caste (termed as untouchables )could not enter the hindu temples,Mahatma gandhi fought against it and won .similarly this should also get abolished.As the time progresses Social reforms should come.
if paravthi can sit alongside shiva, if ayyappa is the product of such a conjugal association, then women can be there right in front of their god.
if ayyappa decided not to marry, that was his personal decision not borne out of any dislike for woman. does the text say anywhere that he hated womnkind after being jilted or so?
since religion today is an industry providing employment to millions of people around the globe, the attempts to interpret rules or legacies are usurped by men for whom climbng the ladders of power are the essential part of their life.
as dan brown has committed no crime with his code, so has jayamala with her visit.
The sad part of Hinduism is that people like you are there in Hindu fold. It would take one full birth to know what Hinduism is all about. Man, read more and more texts and you will know what exactly Hinduism is.
A man of wisdom do not comment every now and then unless he is sure what he is saying. You know why Pacific ocean is so quite. It is so deep. Those who have vast knowledge will not question many of the age-old traditions in Hinduism. Of course, there had been, and have been blind beliefs and from time to time social reformers fought against such evils. In Kerala, the womenfold have been praying to Lord Ayyappa sitting in their homes all through these years, whereas menfold visited the shrine. Women have never complained about this. Let the tradition continues to go on...
Jayamala is lying. Anybody visited any of the temples in Kerala knows that question of touching the idol does not arise at all, as it is kept at the sanctum santorum.
RE:women at sabrimala
by Vinay Nair on Jul 05, 2006 08:04 PM Permalink
Dear Mr. Shashi Kumar,
I think you have expressed your views out of lack of knowledge about Lord Aiyappa and the sacred hill of Sabarimala. Its so foolish of you to compare Da vinci code and Jayamala's visit to Sabarimala. Its not a question of Jayamala committing a crime by visiting Sabarimala, its that she is lying in public for whatever reasons because what she is saying is not practically possible. Just ask anybody who has visited Sabarimala and he will explain you why.
Brush up your resources before expressing anything.
RE:women at sabrimala
by Bala on Jul 05, 2006 11:07 PM Permalink
I am surprised to know how many ppl are unaware of the history and tradition of Lord Ayyappa. Its a rule that women who are in puberty cannot enter the temple. So please dont comment before knowing the tradition of the temple.
Its a shame to talk about equality on this Sabarimalai issue. How many ppl know that majority of the Hindu Temples does not allow non-Hindu ppl to enter the temple. Hasnt anyone heard about this ?? This is a major issue that Sabarimala. Why isnt anyone raising concerns over this. And FYI ladies are not allowed to enter Mosques, has anyone raised voices against muslims that they are showing partiality to the opposite sex.
We can talk about equality for the opposite sex, but not on topics which is our tradition. Understand our tradition first, then talk about equality and women rights. And most of all dont use your freedom of speech to hurt the feelings of true beleivers.
RE:women at sabrimala
by narayan on Jul 06, 2006 10:35 AM Permalink
hi. u got yr facts wrong. Ayyappa is not the son of shiv a and parvati. He is known as Hari Hara Sutan --> hari+ haran 's sutan ---> shiv+ vishnu 's son. mythology says so.
RE:women at sabrimala
by Srivathsan on Jul 05, 2006 07:43 PM Permalink
Hello Sashi,
Women's equality is a western concept. Our Vedic religion and scriptures do given women their respectable place of honour. So, the question of concept of equality does not arise. In the name of modernisation and liberalisation, don't forget to respect / uphold the age-old traditions.
As for your point "Lord Ayyappa does not hate women", you are only indulging in rabble-rousing. While Lord Ayyappa does not discriminate between man and woman, it is HIS words that are to be believed, according to which the tradition of not allowing women is maintained.
If one is a true Hindu, one will certainly respect traditions. (Don't blindly bring half-baked western concepts into our Vedic religion). If one is not, he/she has nothing to lose and hence one will only be inclined to bluff what comes to one's mind.
Innovation & Creativity in sampradaya matters only spell doom to the society.
RE:women at sabrimala
by Rajaji on Jul 06, 2006 04:50 AM Permalink
Excellent! your's is truly a voice of reason!
Only issue I may have is, if they don't provide provide neccessary stuff for all the people coming to Sabarimala, especially if women also start coming, then it'll be hard! For example, without enough toilets, drinking water etc, how will women be able to have a comfirtable visit. With all the traffic and congestion at the lines, will the lazy dewasom board people take necessary action? Hum they are busy finding ways to steal money, not providing basic needs for people.
I have no problem women going to sabarimala. But, we are atleast 5 years away from creating a safe atmosphere for them.
Her claim is absolutely ridiculous. Not only women, but no one other than the Priests are allowed to enter into the sanctum sanctorum where the idols are kept in all the temples in Kerala.
Perhaps, except in Kerala, in all other palces devotees can touch the idols as they are kept at arms length. But in every temple in Kerala, it is different. EVen if there is jostling, you can fall only outside the sanctum and therefore, her claim that she touched the idol of Lord Ayyappa is the biggest lie ever heard on this earth!
I had occasion to visit the shrine several times. It is impossible to believe one could enter into the shrimoolasthan of main diety to touch the feet of His Lordship. Even if we believe that, there is enough space for one to offer namaskar. Generally, except for Main Tantri, nobody enters. One has to climb the steps to get inside, so, there is no possibility of others pushing somebody.
It might be true, she could go upto sannidhanam. There are many dieties of Lord are there. Pooja is offered to all of them. Generally there is big queue for visiting those dieties. Because Main Tantri gives prasad if we stand on Q. She must have mistaken them for the main diety.
But, pl. mind that this is not the issue of equality this is about religious sentiments. Everybody should respect without commenting on ancient traditions.
