Here's a case of how facts get twisted out of shape. What makes it a point worth pondering upon is that the protagonists of 'twisting the story' are supposedly literate if not well educated.
The Background.
A few weeks back, the 11 year old daughter of a priest at the Sabarimala shrine had entered the premises of the temple to pay obeisance to Lord Aiyayappan, the deity. Now, as per traditions and the mythology surrounding the temple and the deity, the following points need to be understood:-
(a) Lord Aiyyappan is the offspring of Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu(In his avatar as Mohini, that demolished
a demon who'd gotten big for his boots after being granted the boon of invincibility by Lord
Siva). The former had fallen for the bewitching beauty of the latter - just goes to prove that even gods
are fallible and have their moments of weaknesses!
(b) Since the child was conceived under extraordinary circumstances, it's supposed to have been released
from the thigh of Lord Vishnu and the royal family of Pandalam became the foster parents of the child
named 'Manikantan' who is known the world over as Lord Aiyyappan.
(c) As per his promise to the foster parents he had decided to remain celibate so that he never came in the
line of succession of the royal throne to facilitate the ascendancy of their biological children.
(d) The consequent tradition associated with Lord Aiyyappan and the Sabarimala shrine is that no female
pilgrim - between the ages of attaining puberty till the advent of menopause - is permitted into the
shrine.
The entry of the child was, thus, against the spirit of the existing tradition and the fact is that the priest was definitely aware of it
The Remedy.
To right the wrong and to cleanse the temple - which is a common religious practice - the Travancore
Devaswom Board is overseeing the 'purification rituals' and the expenses will be borne by the errant priest!
The Aftermath.
A section of the social media users blackened their profile on Facebook and covered pictures to protest the ritual which they dubbed as discriminatory and uncivilised. They've asked the Kerala government - through a message signed by many, including social activists - to back out of the decision to carry out the 'purification rituals' which was akin to the reprehensible public trial of a young girl in the name of violation of rituals!
My Take.
Every institution has traditions - at times quaint - unique to it and I don't think it's right on the part of the outsiders to question them against the backdrop of modern thinking, pragmatism etc. And from the narration above, the tradition has a religious reasoning and it would be prudent to respect it.
Tailpiece.
Another social event - the commissioning of Raju and Bindu's new house in our immediate neighbourhood - was attended when we got to meet a lot of people. It was a pleasant forenoon indeed!
The Background.
A few weeks back, the 11 year old daughter of a priest at the Sabarimala shrine had entered the premises of the temple to pay obeisance to Lord Aiyayappan, the deity. Now, as per traditions and the mythology surrounding the temple and the deity, the following points need to be understood:-
(a) Lord Aiyyappan is the offspring of Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu(In his avatar as Mohini, that demolished
a demon who'd gotten big for his boots after being granted the boon of invincibility by Lord
Siva). The former had fallen for the bewitching beauty of the latter - just goes to prove that even gods
are fallible and have their moments of weaknesses!
(b) Since the child was conceived under extraordinary circumstances, it's supposed to have been released
from the thigh of Lord Vishnu and the royal family of Pandalam became the foster parents of the child
named 'Manikantan' who is known the world over as Lord Aiyyappan.
(c) As per his promise to the foster parents he had decided to remain celibate so that he never came in the
line of succession of the royal throne to facilitate the ascendancy of their biological children.
(d) The consequent tradition associated with Lord Aiyyappan and the Sabarimala shrine is that no female
pilgrim - between the ages of attaining puberty till the advent of menopause - is permitted into the
shrine.
The entry of the child was, thus, against the spirit of the existing tradition and the fact is that the priest was definitely aware of it
The Remedy.
To right the wrong and to cleanse the temple - which is a common religious practice - the Travancore
Devaswom Board is overseeing the 'purification rituals' and the expenses will be borne by the errant priest!
The Aftermath.
A section of the social media users blackened their profile on Facebook and covered pictures to protest the ritual which they dubbed as discriminatory and uncivilised. They've asked the Kerala government - through a message signed by many, including social activists - to back out of the decision to carry out the 'purification rituals' which was akin to the reprehensible public trial of a young girl in the name of violation of rituals!
My Take.
Every institution has traditions - at times quaint - unique to it and I don't think it's right on the part of the outsiders to question them against the backdrop of modern thinking, pragmatism etc. And from the narration above, the tradition has a religious reasoning and it would be prudent to respect it.
Tailpiece.
Another social event - the commissioning of Raju and Bindu's new house in our immediate neighbourhood - was attended when we got to meet a lot of people. It was a pleasant forenoon indeed!
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