Minister's Visit Vouch for the Uniqueness of Sabarimala

Glint Staff
Wed, 02-11-2016 12:40:20 PM ;

kt jaleel at sabarimala

 

While the world around is caught in religious bigotry and internecine fights, the true spirit behind the concept of the hill shrine Sabarimala got re-established with the  visit of two ministers of Kerala on October 28th, Kadakampally Surendran and K.T. Jaleel, ministers of Devaswam and Local self Government respectively. While Kadakampally Surendran by virtue of his political lenience a declared atheist, Jaleel belongs to the Muslim community. Despite being an atheist,  Surendran accepted the 'prasad' from the priest and Jaleel followed suit. Upon coming back Jaleel intriguingly posted on the Facebook that there was no restrictions in Sabarimala. He along with Kadakampally Surendran reached the Sannidhanam of Ayyappan at 1.30 at night and stayed there. Next day morning he reached the sanctum sanctorum and took a stroll around it and saw the idol. Later he visited the abode of Ayyappa's trusted Muslim friend Vavar as well.

 

Sabarimala hill shrine is one of the most visited temples in India by the Hindu pilgrims. Rituals are also that of the Hindu temples, in fact, much higher and stringent than that of the other temples. Still it does not impose any restriction or discrimination to any sections of the society on account of religion and caste. The only condition being observed relates to the entry of women during their menstrual period, between the age gap of 10-50, on which arguments are being heard by the apex court. This is following a petition filed by an NGO questioning gender discrimination practiced in the temple. 

 

The petition was neither filed by those wanting to offer prayers at the hill shrine nor the sympathizers of pilgrims. But by a typical NGO which conforms to the western standards of modernism and gender equality. In fact, their propaganda garnering the support of the members of the present LDF ministry in Kerala succeeded in creating an impression that Sabarimala is a retrograde conservative place of worship not allowing women to worship, despite the fact that women below age 10 and above 50 can visit the temple. Thereby, people with vested interests could easily denigrate the temple by burying its uniqueness in terms of upholding the quintessential subtle essence of Indian culture which metamorphosed into Hinduism. It accepts anything and everything. The rituals of another religion are also considered as just another variety found in Hindu religion itself. Even in a small area, varieties of rituals could be found under the Hindu fold. Not only is  Sabarimala linked to the Muslim icon but to Christianity as well following its linkage with a mythology related to Arthunkal Church in Alappuzha  district. Some pilgrims ritualistically take out their ceremonial bead necklace they wear during the period of pilgrimage before the idol of the saint at Arthunkal Church after their visit to the shrine. The soul of India is declared from this summit to the whole world. Like the sandal paste on the forehead of a pilgrim, the Thathwamasi (thou art that) writing in front of the temple greets every pilgrim who climbs the symbolic 18 steps. Sabarimala in fact unravels and makes experience the ultimate secret to each individual and declares to the whole world the soul of the age old Indian culture, which is inclusive.

 

Some forces want to distort and destroy the culture of this land through heinous means. When the insulation of culture of a land is destroyed that place is exposed to any kind of exploitation. Out of ignorance or arrogance the LDF ministry's stand on this matter also turns out to be support of such efforts.

 

Why are the menstruating women advised against? The temple culture is always woven around forms so that seekers of truth in the lowest rung can access it gradually and effortlessly. Swami Vivekananda's famous uttering is relevant in this context. He said "to take birth in temple is good but not to die there". He meant about the start of a person's spiritual journey from the temple worship. To elevate a lay person to the higher level, symbolic rituals which do have physical and psychic impacts were created with greatest care understanding the varied and complex nature of humans. This is known as the tantric. Sabarimala shrine incorporate the rituals enabling the ordinary people to have the experience of being one with whole (Thawthamasi) in a very subtle but effective way. Sabarimala is the only place in the country having that uniqueness. During the period starting the vratha or observing ritualistic discipline with the wearing of the bead necklace the pilgrim is referred as Ayyappaswami, the very deity itself. Since then till the visit of the shrine the pilgrim has to shut down his senses to the outer world and turn his mind inward. It is a conscious choice made by the pilgrim to detach himself from the physical world for a brief period. Thereby the pilgrim is supposed to be bereft of the quality of worldly matter which is unsteady. It is impossible in the case of a menstruating woman as she has no choice over it. During menstrual cycle her senses are opened like windows to outside. Her senses are actively connected to the nature and nature is playing out through her. If she tries to shut down her senses as part of the ritualistic observations, it will put her into a traumatic situation both mentally and physically. Because of that, menstruating women are advised to abstain from the shrine visit. One should bear in mind that subtle but powerful psychology plays a lot behind such rituals. Across the many Ayyappa temples in the world only Sabarimala does have this condition considering the well being of the women folk.

 

If the LDF government in Kerala is driven by the spout of platitudes and support the NGO agenda, it would turn out be the greatest historic blunder among the other ones the CPI(M) committed in the past. And the price for it also will be very high.

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