Kerala Priests to Discuss Temple Entry for Everyone

[Guest guest]

On occasion, non-Indian sadhaks in the Group have reported

encountering a form of racism at certain Hindu temples in India. That

is, they were denied entry because they were not Indian, and in the

view of some only a born Indian can be a Hindu.

 

I think this is a minority belief, but I have even heard it expressed

(in a moment of pique) by one frequent contributor to the Group whose

posts generally advocate a broad acceptance of all, across religious

and racial lines. You never know, huh?

 

Anyway, as the below article suggests, the problem becomes even more

knotty when the party denied entry *is* a born Indian and the

prejudice becomes more clearly sectarian. But it also suggests that

Hinduism is "at a crossroads" right now, and contains hopeful ideas

for its future.

 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, November 11, 2002: Hindu priests, heads of

various Hindu bodies and seers will meet at Kottakkal, Kerala's

Malappuram district, on November 24 to discuss whether entrance to

Hindu temples should be available to all, regardless of religion.

 

In most temples in Kerala, non-Hindus are not allowed entry. Famous

singer, K. J. Yesudas, an ardent devotee of Guruvayurappan and

Ayyappan who has sung several songs for the Deity was denied entry to

the temple on the ground that he was born a Christian and, despite

his devotion to Hindu Gods, has never converted to Hinduism.

Similarly, poet Yusufali Kecherry, who has written songs to

Lord Krishna, is not allowed to enter the Guruvayur temple because he

is a Muslim.

 

The meeting is being held under the initiative of Azhvanchery Raman

Thamprackkal, who is regarded as the religious head of the Namboodiri

sect in the state.

 

"It is a custom to cleanse the religion and regain spiritual sheen of

Hindustan," a spokesman of the Azhvanchery family told the Hindustan

times.

 

"No believer should be denied entry into a temple just for

the reason that he or she was born in another religion. Hinduism is

at a crossroads now. Only an internal reformation exercise can revive

its old glory and the conclave is a step towards that direction," the

spokesman said.

 

However, he hastened to add that consensus among all religious heads

and priests was necessary for the success of the meeting.

 

(Courtesy HPI)