A place of worship is not like any other general and public place that is normally governed by the rights and privileges conferred on it by the statute and the freedom of use associated with it. If the management of the Sabarimala temple in Kerala has its own codes and commandments — however ridiculous they may appear to be — to administer its internal affairs, it is perhaps too sensitive a domain for a government or a court to find these stipulations “inadmissible” (“Sabarimala temple bar unreasonable”, July 19). While visiting a temple, the purpose is sacrosanct and intertwined with an inexplicable and invisible element that is trusted as being auspicious and pervading even if it may not stand to reason or to science (especially to a passive observer). As long as an institution, traditional or otherwise, has its own healthy, transparent code of administration that is not at war with the fundamental laws of a state, there is no prudence seen in meddling with its running. No one is mandated to visit a certain temple and a life can run peacefully without visiting one.
Sivamani Vasudevan,
Chennai
India is a country where people get carried away when it comes to rules rather than comprehend the spirit behind the rules. There may have been a good reason why the rule about women was made when in ancient times, thick forests and the issue of wild animals may have been an important factor. While this may not be relevant any more, due caution has also to be exercised when too much rationality is applied to religion.
Venkata Harish Lingala,
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
If menstruation is labelled as being ‘impure’ and the sole reason why women of a certain age are prohibited from going to the temple, this leads to a counter-argument about men; they too could be impure as many of them may not be observing the necessities during their mandatory fasting. Some consume alcohol and still visit the temple. Can the authorities prevent such men from entry?
R. Sivakumar,
Chennai
More than this issue, the government and the judiciary should be very concerned about the uncontrolled pollution caused to the Pamba river by the huge influx of pilgrims. The pollution and waste created has to be tackled in a scientific manner as the region is an ecologically sensitive zone.
The Pampa should not become the Yamuna of the south.
Sara Fathima,
Alappuzha, Kerala
