The nation has witnessed the era’s one of the biggest rows – Sabarimala Case. Much has been discussed so far, from media speculations to the Supreme Court’s verdict. From the religious faith to the political agendas, we became part of this ride wherein rationality was accused and abashed merely because it questioned injustice and irrationality. However, nobody said that being Secular had its exceptional clauses. And with time these exceptional clauses would question the inclusion of the word secularism in the Preamble of the Constitution of India.
History of Sabarimala Temple:
Sabarimala is an ancient temple; located inside Periyar Tiger Reserve in Pathanamthitta District, of Kerala. As per the common knowledge, it was apparently unreachable for about three centuries after its installation. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu celibate deity Ayyappan also known as Dharma Sastha, who according to the belief is the son of Shiva and Mohini (feminine incarnation of Vishnu). However, in the 12th century, a Prince of Pandalam Dynasty, known as Manikandan, rediscovered the lost (original) path to reach Sabarimala. He is considered an Avatar of Ayyappa. It is believed that he meditated at Sabarimala temple and became one of with the divine. In 1950, the temple was vandalized, although no convictions or charges were brought, it was later rebuilt. But the earlier stone image was replaced by a Panchaloha (also called Panchadhatu or Panchdhatu, a term for traditional five-metal alloys of sacred significance, used for making Hindu temple murtis and jewelry) idol. Just at a distance of 100 meters away is the Temple of Maalikapurathamma. The legend says Ayyappa killed the buffalo-headed demon, which lifted the curse and transmogrified her into a beautiful woman. She wanted to marry Ayyappa, but Ayyappa told her that he would marry her when the first timer (Kanni Ayyappa) does not come to Sabarimala. It is believed that Malikapurrath Amma’s importance is at par with that of Ayyappa. He even had specific instructions that he wanted her temple on his left side.
Myths and Realities:
Myth: The 41 days penance required for all devotees to visit the shrine could not be completed by women, due to their (what they call it) menstrual impurity?
Reality: The mandatory 41- day penance (non-consumption of Alcohol, non-vegetarian, abstention from physical contact with the opposite sex etc), while visiting Sabarimala temple, is Ipso Facto considered that men devotees would follow the tradition, however, no such trust/belief is put in women, regarding their menses. Even if it is to be taken as an issue, this is a quite absurd reason to deny women any kind of religious rights and duties merely because of a natural process just like any other bodily function, created by the God himself. So, its’ quite hard to believe that the Supreme Deity would find this natural process impure. Arguendo, if traditionally one considers menstruation impure, it is but obvious that no Hindu woman devotee would think of visiting any temple, let alone Sabarimala during her menstruation cycle.
Myth: Another myth cultivated by the patriarchal society against women is that the journey to the Shrine in Periyar National Park is dangerous and the whole tradition was started to safeguard women from such difficulty.
Reality: We know that the female children below the age of 10 and the women above the age group of 50 years are allowed to trek and thought to handle it with grace, making the myth fall flat mainly because somehow, women above 10 and below 50 are magically considered weak for this ardent trek.
Myth: Yet another myth propagated by the so-called superior men is that the Supreme Deity presiding at the Sabarimala is a Celibate, and thus women of reproductive age shouldn’t enter the temple, as they will disturb Lord Ayyappa’s Celibacy.
Reality: Concocting such nonsense and baseless stories are nothing but an insult to the Celibacy of the Supreme Deity and also, to the Divine Respect given to the Malikapurath Amma who being a woman was given such a high position by the Ayyappa Himself, that her temple was built just 100 meters away from his. What is funnier is that women aren’t even allowed to visit Maalikapurathamma Temple, even though it is presided by a female deity. Revealing and confirming the age-old hypocrisy of the firm patriarchy of the society.
And the Supreme Politics:
The ban on the entry of women in the Sabarimala Shrine cannot be regarded as immemorial, as there is no evidence that Lord Ayyappa himself prohibited the entry of his women devotees. Also, it was in the year 1991 that this ban was put by the Kerala High Court on the reproducing age group, violating the basic and fundamental right to Dignity and equality enshrined and protected not only in the Indian Constitution but also by the UDHR and many other human rights conventions. The recent judgment of the Honorable Supreme Court corrected the mistake made by the Kerala High Court, by giving importance to the Grund Norm over such evil customs which were made to subjugate women. The ratio of the judgment was 4:1 and the only judge dissenting this decision was that of Indu Malhotra.
Hopefully, this progressive step taken by the Apex Court and the Government of Kerala would achieve empowerment for women and would give courage to many devout women to visit the temple without any fear. We hope that more Kanakadurga (one of the first females to enter Sabarimala) would find their way to the Shrine without being beaten or threatened by their mothers-in-law or any other members of the society who believe that Subjugation of women by men is their innate right.
Iram Jan Pursuing B.A.LLB (Hons.) at Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi
erammir19@gmail.com