What will happen if a bunch of lawyers gets down to perform a neurosurgery? They will definitely mess up with the patient’s body. It might very likely even lead to patient’s death. If you look at the issue of Sabarimala dispassionately, exactly the same thing has happened. The judiciary has hurt the “sentimental nervous system” of Ayyappa devotees and those who have faith in the Sabarimala temple. I daresay, the “non-spiritual” lawyers hardly know about the “DNA of faith” and its significance in the pursuit of GOD. Faith, in fact, is a far “subtler” subject which can’t be touched, felt and analyzed with the hammer and tongs of court’s jurisprudence.
The justification of rationality without the feeling of sympathy and compassion does not at all heal the wounded belief system. Therefore, the customary practices of “any faiths” that have been handed down for centuries would be better if they are not crushed down by the gross weight of laws and acts.
Others may disagree but most of the belief system and practices in Hinduism, particularly those mentioned in the ancient scriptures, have been recommended by the seers who have “realized” a various level of truths. Those sages, after “deep meditation”, had understood about life, bodily (tangible and non-tangible) functions and changes of behaviors in each phase of one’s life. Various methods of rituals, day-to-day conducts and a series of “restrictions” for certain propose are enshrined in such scriptures. They are all well intended to help one climb the “ladder of spiritualism” so that the believers will not run into the “negative forces” and the like. So, tinkering with these regulations and prescriptions are like the uneducated discrediting and undermining the principles, formulae, and theories thought out by Laplace, Faraday, Dalton, Rutherford, and Einstein.
The most disgusting fact is that some of the non-Hindus (non-devotees) and atheists are adding fuel to the fire of controversy. Why people from other faiths have to rush to visit the sacred Ayyappa temple? Are they sincere devotees of Ayyappa? Their facebook posts/blogs and activities clearly reveal what they are up to. Maligning a particular ‘faith’ is their prime motive. Desecrating the sacred seat of Ayyappa has become their new-found adventure. Tripti Desai and her disposition towards Hinduism and particularly, the Sabarimala temple need no introduction. Who is Rehana Fathima? Is she a Hindu? Since when has she become a devotee of Bhagwan Ayyappa? Why is the government not taking the right step when the scared Ayyappa is being impurified? One wonders how the judiciary utterly fails to suspect such “godless activities” leading to a series of outrageous backlashes for so many years. One can see this as a solid testimony to the “failings” of our judges who can’t see beyond certain horizons. Spirituality is seemingly non-existent to them.
Is it not funny that the case of Sabarimala was moved by a non-devotee of the temple- Naushad Ahmed Khan and supported by a group of non-believers? If Naushad is so clear-headed and wants to do worthwhile for the society, why is he not campaigning aggressively first against the blatant women discrimination and numerous misinterpretations in the faith he has taken birth in? After having studied a few ancient books sincerely, one becomes pretty convinced that labeling Hinduism as discriminatory to women is like an ill-bred son calling his loving mother a hateful taskmaster who doesn’t allow the son to “touch food” with hands which have not been washed properly after the “latrine”. To know Hindu culture well, one needs to make earnest efforts and undertake spiritual practices. But the first thing is that seekers have to “unlearn” all that “misinformation” that has been read and got assimilated into their thought process.
Finally, those who want to criticize India being intolerant, I would like to quote a world-renowned science-fiction novelist – HG Wells – “In Indian ancient wisdom, tolerance is not simply a matter of policy but an article of faith”. However, it is very ungodly to “tolerate” the rise of sinister voices that senselessly spread misinformation and brutally hurt Hindus, nay humanity.
