Is it right to ban women from places of worship

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Posted: 10 years ago

Traditionally women have been denied entry to certain place of worship and offer puja.

The sabrimala temple, the Shani mandir and also the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai. the issue of tradition vs equality has raised quite a storm in India with the women demanding their right to equality under the Indian constitution. Please share your opinion on this controversial issue. You have tradition on one hand and discrimination against women on the other.

Which one would you support?

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souro

@souro

Alumni

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

Originally posted by: zorrro
Traditionally women have been denied entry to certain place of worship and offer puja.
The sabrimala temple, the Shani mandir and also the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai. the issue of tradition vs equality has raised quite a storm in India with the women demanding their right to equality under the Indian constitution. Please share your opinion on this controversial issue. You have tradition on one hand and discrimination against women on the other.
Which one would you support?

I haven't been to Sabrimala or to Haji Ali (only seen it from afar), I can only talk about Shani Singnapur, which I have visited thrice. When I visited the temple in 2006 and 2007, women there were not refused entry, but they were not allowed to touch the black stone representing Shani, where as men were allowed to pour oil on the stone and touch it (provided they were wearing a single unstitched cloth and had a bath). There is no traditional temple or sanctum sanctorum at Shani Singnapur, the only thing that marked the difference between men and women devotees is the access to a raised platform on which the black stone is placed and that platform had a fence around it. Whereas men were allowed to go inside that fence and on that platform, women had to view from the other side of the fence. From about 2010 however, neither women nor men are allowed to go inside the fence and touch the stone, all devotees must pour oil in a container, from where it is pumped and poured over the stone. As far as I know, the reason for not allowing women to touch the stone is because Shani is believed to be a brahmachari.

Whether it is right or wrong to not allow to touch the stone is up for debate, just wanted to clarify that refused entry is not really the correct term. Even when there was some difference between the access of men and women, women were allowed to get quite close to the stone, maybe just a distance of 5-6 feet separated the stone from them.

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Believe

@-Believe-

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

Personaly I agree women should be allowed in all temples and masjids. U can't intervene in the religious matters of one religion only, no matter how valid your justification.

But There are thousands of temples in the country and they have their own rules and regulations and it is conferred in the constitution which is above the Supreme Court about certain freedom of expression and freedom of exercise of faith. In the South, especially in Tamil Nadu, only the priest is allowed into the Garbagriha and not any devotee whereas in many States upwards of the country, people get inside into the Garbagriha do abhishekams etc. Will the SC ask the Southern Temples to allow devotees inside Garbagriha because why only the priest is allowed? These are all faiths and customs.In many temples in Kerala, you are not allowed with a shirt. Will the Court ask this also? Where will this end? Law is different and faith is different!...Does every religion follows constitutional right for each and every custom in their religion? I dont think so.😊

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sudesh kumar

@qwertyesque

Rocker

Posted: 10 years ago

I feel if the religion has evolved into a culture where women are not allowed for some reason that should be accepted.. next you would say why cant women priests go topless like their male counterparts... and make a debate out of it.. accept some things as is.. No gayathri mantra for women and thats how it is and should be...!!!

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Really whats the point

@Unhinged

Inactive

Posted: 10 years ago

Most of the religions I am aware of are gender biased. Muslims don't have women as religious heads and cant perform many activities in the mosque. Same with Hindu temples, women are not allowed to perform certain activities or enter the temple during periods. Although there are varied degrees of interpretations when you say banned from place of worship. I know of Hindu temples where the pujaris are exclusively women. Similarly till recently Christian churches would not allow women preachers on official capacity. This has changed a little bit now though.

I don't claim to have read all religious books but i think in the years past our ancestors (probably male dominated societies) in their own wisdom according to their situation have stipulated certain rules. Are they all relevant now is the question, if they are not then may be it is time to change the rules and move towards equality.

Although when it comes to religious beliefs and customs, I tend to think they are non-issues. There are more serious problems in this world than right to enter a place of worship. If one God does not like you to enter the place of worship then go to a God who values your devotion and lets you enter the place of worship.

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Summer3

@Summer3

Trailblazer

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

Generally it is advisable for men and women to sit separately. But they should have equal access to all places of worship.

Ladies often do a better job in cleaning and decorating places or worship, men are good in building the Temples.😆 Now the question is who is closer to God ? Must be the ladies I think.

So the men got jealous and asked the ladies to stay away !😆

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Alakh

@Autumn_Rose

Stunner

+ 4

Posted: 10 years ago

Or is it because, if say the head is a woman. Now the thing is men will be men. They may get distracted and start looking at her in a different way. If you know what I mean 😉

Edited by Autumn_Rose - 10 years ago

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373577

Suspended

Posted: 10 years ago

Originally posted by: souro
As far as I know, the reason for not allowing women to touch the stone is because Shani is believed to be a brahmachari.

If Shani is to be a brahmachari it is for him to resist temptation in the presence and not absence of women😊

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373577

Suspended

Posted: 10 years ago

Originally posted by: -Believe-
Personaly I agree women should be allowed in all temples and masjids. U can't intervene in the religious matters of one religion only, no matter how valid your justification.

Yes, it should be the same rule for all religions😛

But There are thousands of temples in the country and they have their own rules and regulations and it is conferred in the constitution which is above the Supreme Court about certain freedom of expression and freedom of exercise of faith. In the South, especially in Tamil Nadu, only the priest is allowed into the Garbagriha and not any devotee whereas in many States upwards of the country, people get inside into the Garbagriha do abhishekams etc. Will the SC ask the Southern Temples to allow devotees inside Garbagriha because why only the priest is allowed? These are all faiths and customs.In many temples in Kerala, you are not allowed with a shirt. Will the Court ask this also? Where will this end? Law is different and faith is different!...Does every religion follows constitutional right for each and every custom in their religion? I dont think so.😊

Good points Vinubhai 😃 What is the conclusion to be drawn here? Constitiution/Law is above religion or the Religion is above the law in India?

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373577

Suspended

Posted: 10 years ago

#10

I feel if the religion has evolved into a culture where women are not allowed for some reason that should be accepted..

What reason and do they hold?

next you would say why cant women priests go topless like their male counterparts... and make a debate out of it.. accept some things as is.. No gayathri mantra for women and thats how it is and should be...!!![

As far as i know there is no gender based restriction in reciting the gayatri mantra.

@ bolded- I can understand the part about "thats how it is " but could you elaborate on why thats how it shoud be?

/QUOTE]