New Delhi: The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages Sabarimala temple in Kerala, has sparked a controversy by stating that women will be allowed to enter the shrine only after a device to “check the purity of women” is invented.
Devaswom chief Prayar Gopalakrishnan has said, “a time will come when people will ask if all women should be disallowed from entering the temple throughout the year.
“Now there are machines that can scan bodies and check for weapons. There will be a day when a machine is invented to scan if it is the right time for a woman to enter the temple. When that is invented, we will talk about letting women inside,” he said at Kollam Press Club on November 14.
Menstruating women are not allowed into the shrine and Gopalakrishnan’s “the right time” comment refers to this.
He, however, denied allegations that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh units are working at several Devaswom temple premises. Earlier, it was reported that some premises were being used to store arms of some Hindu extremist groups.
Gopalakrishnan announced that the board will strive for a united Hindu group by bringing together people of all castes.
The famous hill shrine in Kerala, which sees millions of devotees from across the country during the pilgrimage season, does not allow entry of women in the 12 to 50 age group. Some scholars believe women are not allowed inside the temple since they are considered “unclean” during menstruation. Others say the entry is denied because Ayyappa, to whom the temple is dedicated, is considered a celibate.
Meanwhile, the statement by Board chief has created outrage on social media sites, with hundreds of women standing up to say they are proud of their bodies.
