Thursday, June 29, 2006

Bachelor God and A Woman

The Telegraph, Kolkata, reports
Kerala’s leading Hindu shrine, the hill temple of Sabarimala, welcomes people from all faiths — unless they happen to be women aged between 10 and 50.

An admission by two women celebrities — actress Jayamala and dancer Sudha Chandran — that they had climbed the hill and worshipped there has now shaken up the priests.
The reason women aged between 10 and 50 are prohibited from entering the temple is that Lord Ayyappa, to whom the temple is dedicated, was a confirmed bachelor. I think this tradition of prohibiting women is ridiculous. I am glad that I am a non-believer, who foolishly believes that God is an invention of man.

3 comments:

Carol said...

What about the women and girls that fall outside of this range?

I liked the way you worded this:
I am glad that I am a non-believer, who foolishly believes that God is an invention of man.

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

You're right. WE were invented by God! :)

Raju Bathija said...

Carol: The girls and women outside this range are allowed inside the temple. Thanks for your comments.

Andrew: :).