The real problem here is caste and religion. Guruvayur temple authorities always upholds several norms when it comes to non hindus. Remember saying things like 'I can imagine they are practicing this in 21st century' dosent change anything. Customs have survived for several years and will continue in future too. I belive brahmins created a strict code to enter the temple, for instance only higher castes who used to be NEAT in past. This makes sense as they believed only the purest enter the temple. If they had allowed all people, then Guruvayur would smell bad. So we are in 21st century and should have new laws which makes sure that only people neat enough should enter the temple premises, rather than not allowing non hindus. I belive decision to let other castes enter guruvayur was very challenging for temple authorities, if they have accepted that then they better do more changes. Guruvayurappan is everyones lord, its not exclusively for higher castes or religion.
RE:Thoughts
by AG B on Jun 04, 2007 09:20 PM Permalink
Mr. Rajaram, If you read the article patiently you will understand that the problem is that the family is not purely Hindu. There is no mention abt lower caste. Mr.Ravi is a politician and he knows that Muslims & Xians wont care a damn abt his current issue. So he is raking up this issue to get support. As usual theliberal minded Hindus will jump in and the other communities will be laughing all the way to their reservations. Already there are reports that the actual Hindu population is mroe close to 60% as the converted people arent changing their religion that easily due to losing their oBC status. So the need of the hour is that all Hindus come together to safeguard the pillars of Hindu faith like these temples. Can u imagine a Muslim raising this kind of issue. Next moment there will eb a fatwa and the bearded fellas will gather around and torch the fella who has raised the complaint. No Hindu priest can do that which is why the more we need to support the faith and the priests who carry on with tradition. The politicans are trying to destroy the Hindu edifices because they dont want us to unite.
RE:Thoughts
by imanindian on Jun 05, 2007 07:24 AM Permalink
I personally feel that no one should be treated like Ravi was treated but he must have not made this as a caste issue..
RE:Thoughts
by Subrahmshu Bhattacharya on Jun 04, 2007 08:23 PM Permalink
You miss the forest from the trees. The essential question is are all Hindus "clean" as you say? Is that the criterion to thus prevent entry? Most of the people who go into the temple do go in after proper ablutions, but recently, I was told that one could smell alcohol in the breath of Police personnel who were on civil dress and assigned to the temple duty. Best is to allow entry to everyone and perform cleansing rituals on ALL days :)
