In a massive development, Sabarimala temple closed its doors six days after opening for the first time since the apex court delivered a verdict allowing all women including women within the age group of 10-50 years to enter the shrine.
Ever since the state government moved towards implementing the Supreme Court verdict devotees of Bhagwan Ayappa, mostly led by women devotees in order to preserve the faith of Bhagwan Ayappa’s celibacy. It is believed that Bhagwan Ayappa had said that he could marry the goddess only if there comes a time when Kanni Ayyappans (those who visit the temple for the first time) stop coming to visit him. Thus, Bhagwan Ayyappa remained a celibate. It is believed that Bhagwan Ayyappa did not want young women to come and see him out of his affection towards the goddess. These devotees were of the opinion that the entry of women of all ages would be violative of their faith.
Sabarimala shrine soon turned into a virtual warzone with the Bhagwan Ayyappa’s followers and devotees protesting against entry of women of all ages and the Left government in Kerala adamant on implementing the verdict.
The situation had only worsened with the self acclaimed feminist activists Rehana Fathima, reporter Kavitha Jakkal and Matry Sweety trying to enter the shrine. Marys and Fathimas trying to enter the temple while local women being opposed to it, shows that those trying to enter the temple despite protests by devotees, did not have very good intentions. It became clear that they were trying to enter the temple only to hurt the sentiments of the Hindus and the devotees of Bhagwan Ayyappa. It is beyond comprehension that when local devotees abstain from visiting the shrine totally out of respect for Bhagwan Ayyappa’s celibacy, then why Muslim and Christian women should be bothered about entering the shrine. It is clear that they had no real devotion towards the shrine. They were trying to enter the Sabarimala temple only in order to provoke the Hindus and hurt the sentiments of real devotees.
With the increasing attempts to defile the temple and further enrage the local devotees, the chief priest of the temple decided to close the doors of the temple, with the consent of the royals. A set of atheists and activists having no devotion at all towards, were trying to the enter the temple only in order to violate the age old tradition of the temple. It must be kept in mind that the age old tradition of women between the age of 10 to 50 years is based wholly in the faith of the real devotees and followers of Bhagwan Ayyappa. The devotees relate instantly and intimately with the belief of Bhagwan Ayappa’s celibacy. The vicious attempts of certain mischievous elements to defile the temple were constantly worsening and intensifying the situation around the Sabarimala temple. Certain elements saw an easy opportunity to hurt the sentiments of local devotees and provoking Hindus and they were not letting it go. As such, the temple authorities had no other option but to close the doors of the shrine in order to protect it from profanation.
Meanwhile, chief minister Vijayan remains insensitive towards the real devotees and their sentiments. He has made it clear that his government will stick to the apex court’s ruling on the temple issue and will implement the order in all possible ways. Showcasing his biased and concocted form of secularism, he stated, “At a time when women are getting ready to go to Mars, some people are saying that women shouldn’t enter a temple. The aim of certain groups is to make sure that Sabarimala becomes a battlefield. Nobody can break the secular fabric of Kerala.” What the likes of chief minister Vijayan are not considering, possibly deliberately is that there is nothing misogynist about the temple tradition of women between the age group of 10 to 50 years not visiting the shrine. It is a tradition which is intrinsic to the popular belief and faith about the Sabarimala temple and Bhagwan Ayyappa.