Temple knights for change

Intolerance has slowly crept into our social fabric, especially when it comes to matters concerning religion. And with the victory of two women — Kanakadurga and Bindu Ammini who entered the Sabarimala Temple, it has given people a ray of hope on defeating dogmas and challenging archaic customs. The verdict by the Supreme Court to lift the ban on the entry of women into the Sabarimala Temple has also stirred many young men in Bengaluru.

There is a large and very active group of young professionals in the city who religiously follow the Vrutham, and pay a visit to the brahmachari Lord Ayyappan. 

These youngsters travel to the temple after the customary 40 days of fasting, and perform rituals  in their yearly pilgrimage. They look at this judgement as a progressive step to see all women entering the temple, and welcome the change in thinking. Anil GV, retail head of a private firm, says, “I am one of those who follows the 40 day Vrutham which involves not consuming non-vegetarian food, not shaving, complete abstinence from consumption of alcohol, among the many other rules. I see no reason why a woman should be denied access to a place of faith. To say that she is impure and hence can’t enter the temple is not practical when in reality, people are sticking to age-old beliefs and the fact that the god in question is a Brahmachari. It is a change which won’t happen overnight but a much-needed one. To bring peace to the existing situation and ease in the law and logistics, one solution I can think of is to ask women to not go during the annual pilgrim season which begins with the Mandalakala season which commences usually in the months of November-December .”

Everyone has grown up with certain ideologies and beliefs and these tend to leave a print behind; to change such beliefs might not be as easy as it seems.

Shyam Kumar B, a sales executive who is wearing the mala and prepping to go to Sabarimala himself is muddled as to where he stands on the matter. “I believe that no law or rule should stop a woman from her faith. But I am not sure as to how much of what is happening now is in the name of faith as opposed to political agendas. Having said that, it is difficult for people to suddenly accept such a change. When I think practically, I know that it is only fair for women to enter the premises, but deep within, is a dilemma against beliefs followed for years, by my parents and other elders.”

Ayyappa Das, a self-employed 32-year-old, is all for breaking down such shackles, “I do believe that women should be allowed into the temple if they are ok with following the vrutham and the procedures that need to be followed. But it cannot be for reasons other than faith. And the intervention of law in this matter was definitely necessary. The verdict did hurt the sentiments of a lot of people; it is a culture that has been followed since ages and changing it will cause a ripple but it is important to look at both sides of the matter. Change is inevitable; there should be some force that leads it. If we are going to wait for each and every person to think practically, it’s going to take decades to even stir such a conversation in the public forum.” 

Meanwhile, Malayalam film director Priyanandanan became a victim to an attack and claims that the attack was by right wing activists. He was assaulted and attacked with cow dung water on Friday, three days after he put up a derogatory post on Sabarimala Ayyappan on his Facebook page. 

In search of faith, in the hope of securing rights, the fight ensues...