ON REPUBLIC DAY INDIA FAILED TO GIVE HER WOMEN THEIR RIGHT TO PRAY
(1000 WOMEN ARRESTED WHEN THEY TRIED TO ENTER A SHANI TEMPLE WHERE ONLY MEN ARE ALLOWED)
India is truly a diverse nation. Our 67th Republic Day saw members of an all women regiment performing
daredevil shows along Rajpath that was so long in India considered a male domain, while in another part of the country, a few hours from the hip and happening business capital of Mumbai, a group of 1000 strong women was barred and arrested by the Maharashtra government when they tried to enter a Shani temple that has closed doors to women since ages.
The protest was led by Bhumata Ranragini Brigade which had announced to worship Lord Shani at the sacred platform as a symbolic gesture to break the gender barrier at the shrine.
The president of the organization Trupti Desai had earlier threatened to use chopper to enter the temple if stopped by security forces. And Maharashtra government was prompt in arresting the protesters, who had squatted on the streets after being prevented to proceed to the temple. Only if they were this prompt enough when Dalits are murdered or children in slums are raped.
What was more amusing is the manner in which ministers and Hindu sadhus and sadvis maligned a religion that has forever been considered as a philosophy rather than religion. They went on to say Hindu scriptures bar women from entering Shani temples just like Islam bars women from entering mosques.
Shani Dev is one of the Navgraha devtas for the Hindus. The Shani temples are considered as a home without doors that has no restrictions for his followers and visitors to his temple. The devotees are considered to acknowledge fear but not of enemies. The fear of the wrath of Shani Dev is what keeps the devotees away from sins and evils.
The priests have come up with hilarious reasons stating legends unable to quote one single scripture that might suggest only men are allowed to put oil on Shani Dev in the temples. They tried to put in illogical explanations as to Shani idols being swayambhu idols, meaning that they regenerate on their own from the Earth, which incidentally many Shiva idols are too. The oil can be put only by men as the effect of Shani Dev’s wrath is considered to be less on women. The wrath of Shani Devta destroys the life, health, wealth and reputation of a man. Women are largely unaffected from the effects of Shani Dev.
In a bid to relate to women, it is believed that since women are not affected by Shani Dev’s effect, they need not get close to the Shani idols to pour oil.
Many in the patriarchal temple and worship sites in India assert the chastity of women is very delicate. It can be maligned even by the moonlight Women prefer to stay away from Shani Dev’s idol as a mark of respect, just like the Indian women have for their elders.
It’s not that women like me are interested in entering the Shani temple or for that matter any temple. But what surprises is a country whose Constitution provides equal rights to all its citizens irrespective of caste, creed, gender and religion has temples and mosques barring women from entering and worshipping at their free will. Some maulvis even supported the ban on women from entering the Haji Ali Dargah stating its a part of the Islam law, something that is not practised in a democratic republic called India.
Shani or not, Allah or not, what we women need for sure is our freedom and not our chastity.
(1000 WOMEN ARRESTED WHEN THEY TRIED TO ENTER A SHANI TEMPLE WHERE ONLY MEN ARE ALLOWED)
India is truly a diverse nation. Our 67th Republic Day saw members of an all women regiment performing
The protest was led by Bhumata Ranragini Brigade which had announced to worship Lord Shani at the sacred platform as a symbolic gesture to break the gender barrier at the shrine.
The president of the organization Trupti Desai had earlier threatened to use chopper to enter the temple if stopped by security forces. And Maharashtra government was prompt in arresting the protesters, who had squatted on the streets after being prevented to proceed to the temple. Only if they were this prompt enough when Dalits are murdered or children in slums are raped.
What was more amusing is the manner in which ministers and Hindu sadhus and sadvis maligned a religion that has forever been considered as a philosophy rather than religion. They went on to say Hindu scriptures bar women from entering Shani temples just like Islam bars women from entering mosques.
Shani Dev is one of the Navgraha devtas for the Hindus. The Shani temples are considered as a home without doors that has no restrictions for his followers and visitors to his temple. The devotees are considered to acknowledge fear but not of enemies. The fear of the wrath of Shani Dev is what keeps the devotees away from sins and evils.
The priests have come up with hilarious reasons stating legends unable to quote one single scripture that might suggest only men are allowed to put oil on Shani Dev in the temples. They tried to put in illogical explanations as to Shani idols being swayambhu idols, meaning that they regenerate on their own from the Earth, which incidentally many Shiva idols are too. The oil can be put only by men as the effect of Shani Dev’s wrath is considered to be less on women. The wrath of Shani Devta destroys the life, health, wealth and reputation of a man. Women are largely unaffected from the effects of Shani Dev.
In a bid to relate to women, it is believed that since women are not affected by Shani Dev’s effect, they need not get close to the Shani idols to pour oil.
Many in the patriarchal temple and worship sites in India assert the chastity of women is very delicate. It can be maligned even by the moonlight Women prefer to stay away from Shani Dev’s idol as a mark of respect, just like the Indian women have for their elders.
It’s not that women like me are interested in entering the Shani temple or for that matter any temple. But what surprises is a country whose Constitution provides equal rights to all its citizens irrespective of caste, creed, gender and religion has temples and mosques barring women from entering and worshipping at their free will. Some maulvis even supported the ban on women from entering the Haji Ali Dargah stating its a part of the Islam law, something that is not practised in a democratic republic called India.
Shani or not, Allah or not, what we women need for sure is our freedom and not our chastity.
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