Saamis will soon be all over town, throwing away their cigarettes and slippers, sleeping in the living room, and turning on their goodness for 41 days.
"Swamiyeeeii! Sharanam Ayyapppa!" is a chant I've heard and enjoyed every year, as my father would wear his rudraksh necklace, and suddenly turn so pious that I felt respect and fear soar inside me. I liked that he suddenly sported a beard too; it made him handsome. His friends planned the trip for a whole month: cars to be booked ("We're getting older, the Tempo will give us slipdisc. Get a Scorpio"), leave to be applied for, and celibacy to be attained. It was a man's holiday from the household, but these men were truly believers. They loved their Ayyappa and didn't fail to bring home the cherished Aravana payasam (prasad) that we licked for weeks after. I'm glad I got to go once when I was nine, and while trekking up the hill, some uncle even took the bundle of divinity from my head and threw it on his. "Little girls needn't bother."
Looks like not-so-little girls needn't bother either.
"Jayamala shouldn't have entered the temple."
Why?
"Because she's a woman, and women are not allowed inside the Sabarimala Temple."
Why?
"Because Ayyappa is a bachelor and he doesn't like women entering his temple."
Did he tell you personally? Did he have a nice booming godly voice?
Jayamala didn't just touch Ayyappa's feet; she hurt male pride. How dare she enter what God said was man's space? To add to that, an unnecessary court directive a few years ago asks the temple authorities to enforce the ban on women strictly. Now that Jayamala said she entered the temple 19 years ago, suddenly so many men are afraid that the fellow they've been worshipping all this while is a dirty fellow. Touched by a woman. Did it mean that all that work they put into leading a pure life was a waste? "Ermm... so can I smoke again? God ain't that pious anyway."
Rahul Easwar, grandson of the chief priest of the Sabarimala temple, is "a believer in tradition, but a feminist." That's how he describes himself. He's a VJ, wears stylish unwashed jeans, and could give Dhoni a run for his hair. He also chants Sanskrit slokas, seems to be a yoga expert of some sort, and said on a news show that he's is a believer in Sati. Whether he's that much of a believer in tradition, or he just said it to seem consistent on TV, we will never know. But it is this kind of Saami that worries me. The one who seems modern in every way, except that he's not too progressive. The fellows who have no qualms about clinking vodka glasses with their girlfriends, but would "be practical" in getting her parents to cough up dowry (To soften them up for the intercaste marriage). The kind of guy who "allows" his wife to work.
My dad and his middle-aged friends going to Sabarimala wouldn't care if their wives hopped along. Their sons who go along aren't really sure about this, though. They're still walking the trapeze between being a modern chappie who condemns the purdah system, and an Indian boy who must not question his tradition and culture.
9 comments:
I saw Rahul E. on NDTV's "We the people" and while he seemed to look "modern" - jeans etc. he wanted to know "what's wrong with men wanting to subdue women" ? I'm not sure the guy gets it.
Nice read.....
My 2p worth....ppl question things that dont hurt them and accept things that benefit them....be it men or women....
In the on going discussion about Sabarimalai,(including the latest ones on the life and activities of teh Tantri),unfortunately the basics have been forgotten. Sabarimalai is one of the many ritualistic pilgrimages in Hinduism.It provides men with an excuse to shun worldy pleasures for 41 days and attain inner peace .I feel the reason for not allowing Girls/women in the Age group 10-50 are many
1.The "periods"will make it impractical for them to observe 41 days vritha.
2.The journey is arduous.
3.Even now,bathroom/change facilities that suit women are woefully absent in the Malai and on the trek.
Jayamala might have had a delusion-Swamy will take care of her.
Interesting post..
Why women are excluded in this day and age from the "journey" is something I don't get..but I do agree with Kumar (in comments)...
try to understand what rahul said...he said abt unforceful sathi...not a forceful one...try to grasp his views b4 putting reckless comments. how u cud comment on his way of dressing...it varies from person to person .if it is his taste,whts wrong with it
Ro,
Being feminist is fine. But one should reason things out before taking stands and making statements. Your post makes you sound like some christian evangelist on crusade againts hinduism.
You should go read what shobha warrier has to say
http://notanobserver.rediffiland.com//scripts/xanadu_diary_view.php?postId=1151601362
Women are not completely banned there. Only mensurating women are banned from shabarimala. Are women treated the same in other temples too? No. This is unique to shabarimala. That has been the tradition. And it should be respected. This has nothing to do with any eternal conspiracy against women. All these feminist orgs are raking up this issue just to get attention.
One should realize that hinduism is the only faith where the female has the highest place. The prime god/godess is shakti (durga/kaali), who represents pure enery and the all feminine supreme form. All the other gods/godesses came to be later. Such a faith can never look down upon women.
A man who "allows" his wife to work. I have seen my mother go to work since i was a child ,was proud of her but never thought of it as being a natural behavior .given me something to think about.
I don't remember much about the issue but still the article has an eternal and universal appeal.
i do't think so , goddess DURGA is the creator of gods. There is an unmarried young girl's statue inside the temple so does it mean that aiyyapa has lost his purity??? By the way in which hindu books has it been written that girls are not allowed inside the subrimalla ????????????????????
Post a Comment