Ban women at the temple of Sabarimala?

**Badri** · 21st August 2006, 01:40 PM

Nakkeran: The answer to that might lie with the Dharmasastha temple in Achankovil. Any keralites here might be able to give better answers. All I know is in Achankovil, Ayyapan is worshipped in the married form with Poorna and Pushkala.

But it is highly probable that because Ayyapan is in a Brahmachari Yogi aspect in Sabarimala, ladies are restricted from going there. They are free to go all other Ayyapan temples!

And as Braandan had said, all this hullabaloo is only because of Sabarimala's popularity. If it were otherwise, who will bother with it?

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**Nakeeran** · 21st August 2006, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Badri

Nakkeran: The answer to that might lie with the Dharmasastha temple in Achankovil. Any keralites here might be able to give better answers. All I know is in Achankovil, Ayyapan is worshipped in the married form with Poorna and Pushkala.

Thanks Mr. Badri .

**Braandan** · 21st August 2006, 05:13 PM

poorna and pushkala are wives of "Dharma Sastha". Ayyappan is an avatar of Dharma Sastha. In this avatar he is a brahmachari.

Let the men get some peace for a few days at Sabarimala, why disturb their peace by introducing women there also..

This is like fighting for the rights of clothed people to enter a nudist colony..why then a nudist colony if everyone can come there dressed?

**kannannn** · 21st August 2006, 05:17 PM

Pardon my ignorance, but who is Dharma Sastha? Does he have any other avatar?

**Lambretta** · 21st August 2006, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Braandan

Let the men get some peace for a few days at Sabarimala, why disturb their peace by introducing women there also..

This is like fighting for the rights of clothed people to enter a nudist colony..why then a nudist colony if everyone can come there dressed?

**bingleguy** · 21st August 2006, 05:53 PM

I believe what Badri said is true to my knowledge ...

Normally ppl who has not gone through a rigid 41 or 45 days penance are not supposed to visit the temple ..... to have the darshan of the lord !

I ve heard small children who have not attained puberty can be taken to the temple....

though am not sure whether it is the same case with ladies who had their menopause !
But only those two sects can follow this rigorous and systamatic plan !

**sgokulprathap** · 21st August 2006, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by bingleguy

Normally ppl who has not gone through a rigid 41 or 45 days penance are not supposed to visit the temple ..... to have the darshan of the lord !!

That shud not b the reason. I c many devotees not doin all those things. They just take 4 or 5 days penance.

**blahblah** · 21st August 2006, 06:55 PM

With all due respect to all who have responded to this thread:

I am a Roman Catholic Syrian Christian born and brought up in Kerala.Many devotees come to our house to get water and other stuff though they don't enter our house,on the way to Sabarimala.

Faith is always blind.There can not be anything scientifically proven when it comes to faith.Then traditions are traditions and when we do away with them[unless they are so discriminatory],thre core of that faith gets damaged.

Muslim women are not allowed in almost all Mosques.Christiuans do not allow women to be priests generally.I have never heard of a female incarnation of Budha.

We all live in a male dominated society.If women should be allowed in Sabarimala,there should be female priests in the Catholic church,there should be female mullahs in the Mosques,Polygamy should be accepted as a barbarian thing in Muslim families,and a Dalailama should be voted to pwer and so should be the Pope.

If you can't make sure of any of these things ,shut up!

**bingleguy** · 21st August 2006, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by sgokulprathap

Originally Posted by bingleguy

Normally ppl who has not gone through a rigid 41 or 45 days penance are not supposed to visit the temple ..... to have the darshan of the lord !!

That shud not b the reason. I c many devotees not doin all those things. They just take 4 or 5 days penance.

SHOULD not be the reason nnu solli enna prayojanam ...

actually many do not follow these days ...... avvalavudhaan !
you cant find out who has been like that and who hasnt

Only With due respects u ll get to see the Lord !

right ?

**Nakeeran** · 21st August 2006, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by sgokulprathap

Originally Posted by bingleguy

Normally ppl who has not gone through a rigid 41 or 45 days penance are not supposed to visit the temple ..... to have the darshan of the lord !!

That shud not b the reason. I c many devotees not doin all those things. They just take 4 or 5 days penance.

Gokul

Now a days crores & crores are visiting the shrine & issuing such a generalised statement like urs only degrades the sincerety shown by others
What u might have seen is a tiny drop in an ocean

As regards the 41 day viratham, there is a school of thought which says that this imbibes lots of self discipline like :

1. Vegetarianism
2. No contact with women ( purity )
3. Mind focussed ( most chant songs & bhajans on the lord )
4. Feeling of brotherhood ( this u can witness between any fellow Iyappa worshipper during the fasting period )
5. Makes u feel humble ( whether the guy is the owner of a big organisation or a down the line staff , its all the same )

Women , who had crossed the menstruation cycle have been regularly visiting the shrine of late.
& as Bingleguy pointed out, children who had not attained puberty, also are worshipping the Lord

Its for those who go through that cycle are requested to avoid visiting the place