Hindu Traditions Vs Kerala Govt; Shirtless Entry Row
The Significance Of Removing Shirts In Temples/Worship
The Tradition Of Removing One's Shirt Before Bhagawan Symbolizes Humility,
Equality, And Surrender. It Signifies Leaving Behind One's Ego, Status, And The
Display Of Material Wealth. By Removing The Shirt, Devotees Leave Their
Individual Identities And Embrace The Idea That All Are Equal Before The
Divine. This Act Aligns With The Principle Of Advaita, Emphasizing The
Oneness Of All Beings And The Unity Of The Self With The Supreme.
Annual Sivagiri Mutt Pilgrimage Begins Amid Controversy
Sivagiri: Swami Satchidananda, President Of The Sree Narayana
Dharma Sangham Trust, On Tuesday Described The Practice Of Requiring People To
Remove Their Upper Garments (Such As Shirts) Before Entering Temples As A
"Social Evil," A Tradition That Must Be Abolished. The Influential Sivagiri
Mutt In Kerala Explained That The Practice Was Originally Introduced To Display
The Sacred Thread (Poonool/Janeu).
Adding To The Controversy, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan Lent His Support To These Contentious Views, Framing Them As
"Progressive." However, Critics Argue That Vijayan’s Stance Is Less
About Genuine Social Reform And More About Leveraging The Mutt’s Platform For
Political Gains. By Aligning With Such Polarizing Statements, The CM Risks
Alienating A Significant Section Of The Population That Values Tradition And
Religious Practices.
Meanwhile,
S. Radhakrishnan Potty, State General Secretary Of The Akhila
Kerala Thanthri Mandalam, An Organisation Of Kerala Brahmin Priests,
Said Such Practices Are Part Of The Pledge Jointly Taken By Devotees, Priests
And Those With The Customary Temple Rights At The Time Of Installation Of The
Deity, Which Can Be Seldom Modified.
 |
| P.S. Prashanth |
Timely Change In Rituals Is Essential: CPI(M) Member And President
Of Travancore Devaswom Board P.S. Prashanth
P.S. Prashanth, President Of The Travancore Devaswom
Board, Emphasized The Importance Of Adapting Rituals And Practices In Temples
To Suit Contemporary Times. He Stressed That Such Changes Should Be Approached
Through Constructive Discussions. This Remark Comes In Response To Sivagiri
Math's Suggestion That Temple Entry Should Be Permitted For Individuals Wearing
Shirts.
Consultations With The Thantris And The Faith Community Are
Needed. It Does Not Seem Like Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Said That This
Would Be Implemented. The Customs And Rituals In Temples Have Existed For
Centuries. He Also Clarified That There Will Be Changes According To The Times.
V.K. Vijayan, President, Guruvayur Devaswom Board, Said The
Decision To Allow Women Wearing Churidar To Enter The Guruvayur Sreekrishna
Temple Was Met With Resistance When Introduced A Decade Ago. However, The Dress
Code Was Modified In Tune With The Changing Times. Men Still Have To Take Off
Their Shirts To Enter Guruvayur Temple And The Issue Has Not Come Up Before The
Board, He Said.
BJP Protests Against CM’s Remarks On Sanatana Dharma
The Agitation Organised By The BJP’s Thiruvananthapuram District
Committee Was Taken Out To The Secretariat. BJP District President V.V. Rajesh Led
The March.
The Protesters Accused Pinarayi Vijayan Of Outraging
Religious Feelings Of Large Sections By Insulting The Sanatana Dharma, And
Misinterpreting The Ideals Of Sree Narayana Guru For Vested Interests. The Controversial
Remarks, They Alleged, Were A Ploy To Distract The Public From The Misrule Of
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government.
 |
| G. Sukumaran Nair |
The NSS Is Against Changing Age-Old Rituals And Customs, G. Sukumaran
Nair Said.
Criticizes Pinarayi Vijayan Over Remarks On Shirtless Temple Entry
Recalling His Leadership In The 2018 Revolt Against The Pinarayi
Vijayan Government Over The Sabarimala Women’s Entry Issue, NSS General
Secretary G. Sukumaran Nair Launched A Strong Critique Of The Chief Minister’s Recent
Comments On A Controversial Subject—Men Entering Temples Wearing Shirts.
Nair Argued That The Practice Of Removing Shirts Before Entering
Temples Is A Long-Standing Tradition, One That Cannot Be Altered By A
Government Or Any Specific Community. He Strongly Disapproved Of Vijayan’s Endorsement
Of Swami Satchidananda Of Sivagiri Mutt, Who Called For A Change In The Custom.
Speaking At The Inaugural Session Celebrations At The NSS Headquarters
In Perunna, Nair Stated, "The CM Should Not Have Supported Satchidananda’s
Suggestion."
What About Followers Of Other Religions? Christians And Muslims Also
Have Their Own Customs. Does The Chief Minister Or The Sivigiri Matt Have The
Courage To Critique Those As Well?" Asked Nair.
 |
| VD Satheesan |
Congress Criticises Pinarayi Vijayan On Sanatana Dharma Remarks
"Kerala's Opposition Leader, VD Satheesan, Has Criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan For His Remarks On Sanatana Dharma Made During The Varkala Shivagiri Pilgrimage Event. Satheesan Emphasized That Sanatana Dharma Is An Integral Part Of India’s Cultural Heritage And Cannot Be Claimed By Any Single Group. This Disagreement Underscores The Ongoing Tensions Between The Congress And CPM Regarding Religious And Cultural Issues In Kerala."
Sabarimala Ayyappa Yuva Seva Samithi(SAYSS) Criticized TDB President
PS Prashanth:
"TDB President PS Prasanth & One Other Person Was Caught
Wearing Shirt At The Garbhagriha Where Every TDB Employees And Others Work
Without A Shirt According To The Temple Customs. Ironically Tantri Brahmadattan
Was Seen Handing Prasada To Him And One Other Person. As A Priest They Should
Deny Entry For Such People",
"It's Disheartening To See Thousands Of Devotees Who Have Completed The Mandala Vratham Waiting In Queue For Barely 2-3 Seconds Of Darshan, While PS Prashanth Stands Near The Sannidhanam Garbagriha For Hours Without Removing The Shirt, While The Employees Remove The Shirt And Do The Duty" - SAYSS.
