Sadhguru on Sabarimala: Should Women Be Allowed In The Temple

Pentamma wrote:The funny thing is, there are temples of female deities where the deity is a virgin and hence men are not allowed into the temples. They are exclusively for women/girls. Are people saying, ‘men are not allowed because the deity might get tempted by her male devotees and lose virginity.’ Then why do some imply that to Ayyappa? Sick!! 

There are 400 ayyappa temples and 399 allow women. It’s only in this one temple that he takes the form of a celibate and so there are some restrictions accordingly. 
Each temple is an abode/home of the deity. The rituals and customs change according to the nature of the deity. If it’s a celibate, or a virgin devi, the customs are accordingly. At least that’s how it is in most south indian temples. Right? Like in Tirumala it’s the married god with two wives and the rituas are according to that (Suprabhatam, Kalyanam, oonjala seva, etc). In some temples, it’s the baby krishna and the customs, pujas and rituals fit to that. 

There are thousands of temples all over India and hundreds of Ayyappa swamy temple where women are allowed. Why do the activists want to come ONLY to this temple? The restrictions have nothing to do with discrimination of women and a vast majority of female devotees have no problem with it. 

I agree, if it is a discriminatory practice and it’s prevalent everywhere, like the dalits not being allowed into the temples, it has to be reformed and a social change is needed. But this one custom at this one temple? Seriously? What are they going to achieve except to cause a lot of unrest, anger and acrimony? It’s obvious that it’s all done with a malicious intent. Vinasha kale...

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

Pentamma wrote:The funny thing is, there are temples of female deities where the deity is a virgin and hence men are not allowed into the temples. They are exclusively for women/girls. Are people saying, ‘men are not allowed because the deity might get tempted by her male devotees and lose virginity.’ Then why do some imply that to Ayyappa? Sick!! 

There are 400 ayyappa temples and 399 allow women. It’s only in this one temple that he takes the form of a celibate and so there are some restrictions accordingly. 
Each temple is an abode/home of the deity. The rituals and customs change according to the nature of the deity. If it’s a celibate, or a virgin devi, the customs are accordingly. At least that’s how it is in most south indian temples. Right? Like in Tirumala it’s the married god with two wives and the rituas are according to that (Suprabhatam, Kalyanam, oonjala seva, etc). In some temples, it’s the baby krishna and the customs, pujas and rituals fit to that. 

There are thousands of temples all over India and hundreds of Ayyappa swamy temple where women are allowed. Why do the activists want to come ONLY to this temple? The restrictions have nothing to do with discrimination of women and a vast majority of female devotees have no problem with it. 

I agree, if it is a discriminatory practice and it’s prevalent everywhere, like the dalits not being allowed into the temples, it has to be reformed and a social change is needed. But this one custom at this one temple? Seriously? What are they going to achieve except to cause a lot of unrest, anger and acrimony? It’s obvious that it’s all done with a malicious intent. Vinasha kale...

It's the same with every temple where some people want to change an old tradition / custom. This situation involving Sabarimala temple where there is much resistance now to the progressive change (allowing women of all ages to enter) is just an example of typical negative reaction to going / looking forward. Btw, the Gita (Ch. 9 - V. 32) also talks about sudra / dalit as worthy of approaching God and fit to pray and worship.

FluteHolder wrote:

FluteHolder wrote:K:
You cannot escape. No more rotis/phulka/sabji for 1 week! And no Hindi movies either.  Penance/Punishment for NI Bashing for you!

Sevaji: In north, Shiva temples devotees personally touch/do abhisheka to the Shiva Lingam. But in South Temples it is prohibited and it is only allowed by the priests. And none can enter the Garba Graha except Priests. Do you protest that and say it is discrimination?

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

FluteHolder wrote:K:
You cannot escape. No more rotis/phulka/sabji for 1 week! And no Hindi movies either.  Penance/Punishment for NI Bashing for you!

Sevaji: In north, Shiva temples devotees personally touch/do abhisheka to the Shiva Lingam. But in South Temples it is prohibited and it is only allowed by the priests. And none can enter the Garba Graha except Priests. Do you protest that and say it is discrimination?

FH-ji, it looks like you and Sadhguru are determined to continue old traditions / customs no matter if they have no use now and make no sense anymore.

Let's say you take your 10 old granddaughter ("Lakshmi") and a 12 yr. old neighbor boy ("Madhavan") to Sabarimala. There you have the boy enter the shrine (Lord Ayyappa's Sabarimala temple) while keeping the girl (your 10 yr. old granddaughter Lakshmi) outside. Lakshmi asks you, "Gramps, how come Madhvan can go inside, and not me?" 

Do you reply, "Dear Lakshmi, you as a 10 yr. old girl pose a threat to brahmcharya  of Lord Ayyappa who is a "naishtika brahmchari" (12 yr. brahmchari boy)?", making girl wonder, among other things,  how come she was not a threat to 12-yr. old boy Madhvan all along?

southindian wrote:

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

FluteHolder wrote:K:
You cannot escape. No more rotis/phulka/sabji for 1 week! And no Hindi movies either.  Penance/Punishment for NI Bashing for you!

Sevaji: In north, Shiva temples devotees personally touch/do abhisheka to the Shiva Lingam. But in South Temples it is prohibited and it is only allowed by the priests. And none can enter the Garba Graha except Priests. Do you protest that and say it is discrimination?

FH-ji, it looks like you and Sadhguru are determined to continue old traditions / customs no matter if they have no use now and make no sense anymore.

Let's say you take your 10 old granddaughter ("Lakshmi") and a 12 yr. old neighbor boy ("Madhavan") to Sabarimala. There you have the boy enter the shrine (Lord Ayyappa's Sabarimala temple) while keeping the girl (your 10 yr. old granddaughter Lakshmi) outside. Lakshmi asks you, "Gramps, how come Madhvan can go inside, and not me?" 

Do you reply, "Dear Lakshmi, you as a 10 yr. old girl pose a threat to brahmcharya  of Lord Ayyappa who is a "naishtika brahmchari" (12 yr. brahmchari boy)?", making girl wonder, among other things,  how come she was not a threat to 12-yr. old boy Madhvan all along?

We live in 2018. That was a stupid, archaic restriction hanging like a 'chad' on old voting cards. Good riddance.