In the early twentieth century, Kerala witnessed a tremendous surge of revolution when people chose to think differently. Disagreement and debates were in strife until in 1924, the real struggles to claim entry into the temples, irrespective of one’s caste had gain momentum. There was torture, torment and terrible tyranny to this sudden act of bravery. However in November, 1936, when the Maharaja of Travancore officially declared that the temples would, thereafter be open to all Hindus irrespective of their caste, a new suit was set for the rest to follow. Nearly 100 years later, today, we see a similar uproar. Thanks to the honorable Supreme Court’s diligent efforts to update the legal system as well as the brave and timely act of certain people to stand up for the cause, we are witnessing another reform.
It had been a custom that menstruating women should be barred from entering the temple premises. The explanation rooted in the now worn-out purity principle with the Supreme Court’s decision allowing entry for women into the Sabarimala temple, where up to now, entry was restricted to men, kids and senior citizens of both sexes. This means that women who haven’t reached menopause are barred from entering the temple. This notion was accepted and blindly followed throughout the ages without questioning, something social psychologists might call an example of the bandwagon effect.
Recently, a girl had the courage to say that she had been to a temple during her periods and most importantly that she does not believe that she is impure during those days, on a leading television channel. This was followed by a filthy flow of cyber bullying and verbal abuse. Many people claimed that it hurts religious sentiments. There were threats and online bullying of several sorts.
Now, the question arises – why are we so afraid of menstruating women? As far as the believers are concerned, even the womb and the menstrual cycle were created by the omnipotent creator and is there a graver sin than labeling one of his creations impure? Several far-fetched explanations were put forward to sugarcoat fears in a scientific aura. But the girl is still smartly living and she gave one of the classiest replies to the online bullies – citing how the Indian culture respects menstruating women, illustrating with examples such as the Kamakhya temple and Ezhuthachan’s verses, thereby disproving the scientific explanations.
Many months ago, a young girl was brutally raped in a temple premises. It shocked the nation. But it seems people are more upset when a menstruating woman had entered a temple. Be it to pray or to protest, she was doing it non-violently, just how Gandhi once got freedom to India. In fact, Gandhi too was misunderstood and criticised several times. Amidst all the uproar and the hypocritical sanskar where truth is more distasteful than the thousand terrible swear words and ugly show of anger, we still have hope and space to rejoice, for there is someone to choose the road not taken.