Women are impure. Sabrimala Temple to conduct purification rituals. I’ve watched this issue on TV, read about it in the media. I mean, it’s not such a secret really. There are temples that ban women from certain services. Sometime back I’d read about the Sardarnis who’d tried to perform seva at the Golden Temple. They were stopped. I’ve read articles about women who are infuriated at being kept behind a screen in mosques, and have sought to conduct women-led prayers. The Vatican does not allow women to be priests. When my American colleague (a Christian) got married her grand-parents refused to attend the wedding because a female priest was conducting it. She went ahead anyway.

In the US, I’ve visited temples where after the Aarti, the priests won’t let me circumambulate the temple because all the men must go first. Women must follow after every single male in the vicinity, be he an adult man or a little boy, has had first dibs on the worship of God. In a very beautiful temple in my city, I was barred entrance since I was wearing a sleeveless salwar-kameez. I was offered a shawl-like cloth to cover my offending arms, but I demurred and preferred to not enter at all. But in this case it’s not just for women; even men are not allowed inside if wearing sleeveless T shirts or shorts (you are offered a shawl for the arms, and a lungi like garment for the legs). Either way, it feels wrong. So I could presumable have filth in my heart but be allowed inside, and be the Lord’s most ardent devotee but be refused entrance because of bared arms/legs ? Does God really care if I choose to go sleeveless in the summer heat ?

I have seen segregation of men and women in temples in India and the US. I have also seen temples (funnily only in the US) where women won’t be allowed in if any of the “Gurus/Mahants” are inside. I’ve tried to ask why – but have never recieved clear answers, and other women in the temple have been appalled that I even dare question the secret workings of the “holy” mind. Very “holy”, I’m sure. Anyway, the most I’ve been able to gather is that “Guruji” will be “distracted” by the sight/presence of women. The same argument, apparently, goes for the bachelor God Ayappan. However is all-knowing, omnipotent God really so weak that he can be defiled by the presence of a mere women ? Aren’t women, uterus and all, creations of God ? Isn’t God all-seeing and all-knowing ? Does this fragile God exist only in the sanctom sanctorum of these temples, easily upset by a woman’s desire to worship him ?

I must admit that the one time I was refused admission into the innards of the prayer hall, because a “Guruji” was inside praying, I’d felt a little ashamed. I was ostracized for being “female”, something inherent. It’s not like they were keeping me out for my having lied, or trolled blogs or whatever, it was something I had no control over, for being me ! What’s with all that talk about being God’s children ? So, what God created man, and was like – Yeah, you, man ! You can worship me anywhere, anythime – no boundaries for you, my good friend ! When God created women, he created women with inbuilt impurities ?? Makes no sense that God would bother with such frivolities, or the arduos inhibitions of modesty (cover your arms, legs, head . . . – let’s leave a 1 mm opening in front of your nose to permit breathing – and really being the Lord’s loyal servant you shouldn’t even need that !).

I still visit the temple which bars my unclad arms. I stay outside though – I don’t attempt to enter, when I know that the garment I’m wearing will cause one or more of the many temple volunteers to rush towards me with an outstretched shawl. The temple is very beautiful and serene from the outside. I haven’t protested, lodged a petition, or attempted to get the temple authorities to rectify their policies. Why ? Because entrance to the temple doesn’t affect my life ; it is not a basic need (for me). I go to other temples, too. And frankly, what I have to say to God and what she has to say to me (and I hope she’ll say nice things 🙂 ), can be said anywhere.

Categories : _culture_and_society , _women