Originally posted by: Maya_M
But Yesudas is a born Christian and practicing Hindu. How can a temple's sanctity get disturbed if the authorities let him enter the temple? The other case of temple going for shuddhikalasham (purifying because of a Non-hindu's entry) because the mother of the groom is a Christian. The guy's father is Hindu. So does it make the guy's blood mixed? Many temples in Kerala have such stringent rules. I am not making a comparison but have never found such discrimination in temples of other states. In our family temple only people of royal family and Brahmins are allowed. I follow the rules to respect the elders but it pains me that some of the elders in my family are being so narrow minded in this day and age and clinging onto old belief.
Let us not compare why and how other religious places don't let Hindus and strictly based on Guruvaypor issue I thing it is high time we let go off such discriminatory actions in the name of religion.
Maya, as I told u, I am not against religious discriminations, if a devotee draws solace or inspiration from a particular god, then he must be permitted to worship the Lord.
To cite an example of a temple in Tamil Nadu, Tiruppungar, (it is pronounced differently, cant write the tamil word here properly), where Lord Shiva is worshipped. The lore goes that the temple is very powerful. One untouchable, Nandanar, a great devotee of the Lord Shiva, who longed to get darshan once of the Lord in the temple, was always turned away from the temple because he was harijan. The lore goes that the idol of Nandi which is found outside every sanctum of Lord Shiva moved that morning to the side so that Nandanar, who was standing outside the temple, in front of the sanctum, could get the darshan of the Lord. When the Lord himself does not prevent his devotees from worshipping him, who are mere mortals to do so.
But the Devasthanam Boards do not bar such entries on whims and fancies or age old traditions alone.
At least speaking for Guruvayoor, the Tantris do a prasham, and then decide on the course of actions to be taken.
The construction of the temple and the sanctity of the temple are mantained not just by cleaniless and regular pujas, but by strictly adhering to the religious canons of the temple. Every such "canon" has a reason and rationale behind it and all I would say is we should respect it.
As I told above, this is my personal experience. In Hazratbal, we were not allowed entry beyond a particular point. I went there to see a place of worship and not as a tourist, but I am concious that there are many who go there as a mere tourist, and the religious canons of that place of worship dictates that they would not permit non muslims beyond a certain limit. One should respect it, I believe.
On the religious aspect, if all of us learn to respect other religions sentiments and adhere to follow the norms and canons of those religions while entering that place of worship, yes, why not. But till such time religious tolerance is practiced by all, would it be right to allow another religion to deface our place of worship.
When in rome, do as the romans. When we go to the Golden Temple, we are asked to cover our heads and we do so, because the temple canons and their religion require it. If one sees strictly, in our caste, only widows would cover heads, but we do not observe that when we go to their temples, because there, we must respect their place of worship.
Edited by greatmaratha - 18 years ago
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