The recent decision of the Dewosam Board of the Guruvayoorappan temple of Gurruvayoor,Kerala, to allow female devotees in Churidars inside the tample is,shocking, to say the least. Let readers not jump to the conclusion that I am a traditionalist/conservative who is totally opposed to new ideas and change-resistant. Feminists and womens liberation activiists -hold your breath ,set aside your gender-conciousness and see the rationale of the issue. Should similar relaxation be done in case of Males ,then also, my stand would be similar. Normally, whenever I take up any issue for discussion or writing, I try to see both the points of view and try to present a balanced view. I always beleive a writer/reporter/news editor should only has to highlight the issue and should not thrust his opinion on the readers/viwers. He should present both the pros and cons and leave the judgement to the the reader.But as for as as this issue is concerned, I intend presenting only those reasons, for which they should have not made the change.While I subscribe to the view that "every coin has 2 sides"- but only till such time when it is vertical.The moment it becomes horizontal you have to accept the fact that it is only one side that you are facing- heads or tails.

 

We are begining to take things for granted- what was the necessity to review the dress code? Why in the firs place, the womenfolk should feel that they have the right to visit temles in any dress other than the sari? When Even clubs have dress codes what is wrong in a religious place of such sanctity and over 400 years old having its own dress code? If you are keen on having a darshan of the Lord attire in Sari.That's it.

 

In the name of pseudo-secularisim, it is time our politicians and administrators stopped such gimmicry. Only because it is a Hindu place of worship- they are doing all this.Kerala,like Bengal prides itself on its 'rebellious,non-confiormist & intelectual and therefore leftist' image. But we need to learn to separate chaff from rice.Literacy may be high in Kerala and people may be progressive. But sex-crimes are also maximum in Kerala. In the name of traditional Ayurveda treatment and health tourism, most of us know the 'behind-the-scene' happenings. So do not fool the public. Could it have been done with other religious groups like Muslims or Christians? Muslim women are finding to difficult to break away from the 'burkha' code. Can the Archbishop proclaim "young ladies! you are most welcome to the House of Jesus in bikins! If it is Hindus, you can play around with their sensibilites.

 

Tradition has its place and has to be respected. Period. No 2 ways about it. Certain things are beyond review and let's accept it. A son may attain 60 years of age and his father at 85 may be still alive. This does not give the son permission to address his father in first-person-singular, disrespectfully.He might himself come of age. But any day, his father would be older to him and consequently command respect. To take another example, all of us know we are products of procreation. Only because our parents indulged in physical sex that we are here. This does not mean -that a young,recently married son has sex with his wife in front of his parents-  you had done it in your time and what's wrong doing in my doing it now? Certain conventions are to be honoured. To illustrate the point further- the human body has 9 holes - 2 for seeing,2 for hearing,2 for smelling/breathing,1 for eating/talking 1 each for procreation and excretion. The functions of the holes cannot be interchanged. Since time immeroal, men have been taking food through mouth- why not try it through the posterior? Such logic does not work.

 

I agree that certain practices are subject to review. But one of the prerequisites is the correct knowledge why the practice was adopted in the first place. Here no assumption or presumption should be allowed. We find a lot of arm-chair modernists, opposing tradition just for the heck of it. This should not be encouraged. Cruel practices such as female infanticide,imposition of widowhood, burning of brides- should be condemned by every righteous person. What made our wise ancestors accept such practice is a moot point. But it we disrespect tradition and start diluting the basics, 200 years down the line, the tradition might become dysfunctional and a great civilisation may begin to look like a caricature- a pale shadow of its glorious past..Even Sabarimala temple does not allow female devottes (more precisely it allows women before the onset of and after the stopping of menstruation cycle) just to preserve the sanctity of the place.Also Lord Ayyapa is supposed to be in absolute continence. Let us respect such traditions. Because what has boiled down to Churidars from Sarees, today, may ultimately end up in swim-suit .The same women who donot find anything wrong in visiting the temple in Churidars may argue, tomorrow ,in favour of the swim-suit. Afterall, right to dress, as they claim is a fundamental right and should not be dictated by the society What you decide to wear (or unwear) is your choice.

 

In Kerala most of the temples follow the" Tantric" mode of worship and seeking "Prasnam" or divine answer is also quite common. Let the Dewasom Board seek a referendum from Lord Guruvayoorappan himself and I am  sure that the Lord's verdict would be in the negative !