SABARIMALA TEMPLE – CONFLICT BETWEEN CUSTOMS AND LAW?
Image courtesy - https://www.hindustantimes.com/rf/image_size_960x540/HT/p2/2019/01/16/Pictures/protest_fa5a9dca-1943-11e9-9a47-fd04d5270281.JPG Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is a famous temple located in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The temple is managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board along with other stakeholders Tantri (head priest) family, Pandalam Royal Family, Ayyappa Seva Sangam etc. The shrine at Sabarimala is an ancient temple of Ayyappan. Lord Ayyappan is also known as Sasta and Dharmasasta. Lord Ayyappa is believed to be born out of the union of two male Gods Shiva and Mohini, where Mohini is Vishnu in a female form. Lord Ayyappan is worshipped as a Naishtika Bramhachari . Naishtika Bramhachari means celibate for life. So the Devaswom Board that manages the temple, issued a notification that women belonging to the menstruating age are not permitted to enter the temple. That’ why women between 10 and 50 years of age are not allowe