New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday questioned the tradition of banning women’s entry to a famous temple in Kerala dedicated to a bachelor deity.
The apex court, however, has not given a verdict on one of the contentious features of Sabarimala temple situated on a hill inside a forest in Kerala. The temple bans entry of women in menstruating age considering them impure.
Women between the age of 10 and 50 cannot enter the ancient temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The rule, introduced by the powerful Travancore Devasom Board that maintains the temple, must be over-turned, a group of women lawyers have contended in their appeal to the top court.
“The temple cannot prohibit entry (women), except on the basis of religion. Unless you have a constitutional right, you cannot prohibit entry, “said the judges who heard the case. The next date of hearing is February 8.
In November, the head of the temple’s board, Prayar Gopalakrishnan, created a controversy by stating that women would be able to access the temple after a machine is created that would function like a body scanner to determine which women were “pure” enough to make the cut.
Sabarimala is located at the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District. The temple is situated at an altitude of 468 m (1,535 ft) above mean sea level. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world, with an estimated over 100 million devotees visiting every year.
Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu god Ayyappan meditated after killing the powerful demon Mahishi.
Sabarimala pilgrims wear black or blue dress. They do not shave until the completion of the pilgrimage, and smear sandal paste on their forehead. Females who menstruate are not allowed, since the story attributed to Ayyappa prohibits the entry of the women in the menstrual age group. This is because Ayyappan is a Bramhachari (celibate).
The temple is open for worship only during November 15 to December 26, January 14 and April 14, and the first five days of each Malayalam month.
The devotees are expected to follow 41-day fasting prior to the pilgrimage. This begins with wearing of a special chain made of Rudraksha or Tulasi beads. During the period they have to abstain from non-vegetarian food, alcohol, tobacco, sex, foul language, hair-cut, shaving and even trimming nails.
They are expected to bath twice a day and visit local temples regularly.
Most devotees trek the 61-km traditional mountainous forest path from Erumely,12.8 km from Vandiperiyar and 8 km from Chalakayam, believed to be taken by Ayyappa himself.
The temple is managed by Travancore Devasvom Board, an affiliate authority of Kerala government.