| Sabarimala
issue: Actress to be arrested? |
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The
Sabarimala Aiyyappa temple is a revered
pilgrimage center for thousands of devotees.
There are several legends and historical
facts associated with the temple |
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The visit to the temple can be undertaken
only after following a strict regimen
of abstention for 45 days. Women have
traditionally been dissuaded from
visiting the temple. Upto 1999, however,
this was only a social diktat and
there was no legal basis. The Supreme
Court then ordered that women between
the ages of 5 and 50 would not be
allowed into the temple and anyone
violating the rule would be punished
with five years imprisonment.
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In
the past week, there has been a buzz about
two actresses who had not only entered the
sanctum sanctorum but also touched the idol.
An astrologer performing a ‘Prasannam’
ritual, indicated that a female under the
age of 30 had entered the temple and touched
the Lord. |
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He also said that she was an artiste and
that the incident occurred 18 years ago.
As news spread, Kannada actress, Jayamala
confessed that it was she who had entered
the temple in 1987 and touched the idol.
She said that she had prayed for the speedy
recovery of her husband and when she accompanied
him to the temple, she had been pushed in
by a surging crowd. She said that she was
given a flower and asked to leave immediately.
Similarly, danseuse Sudha Chandran, also
claimed that she entered the temple. |
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Devotees are indignant that the strict
rules of the pilgrimage to Sabarimala
have been flouted. The Board which
administers the running of the temple
has ordered an enquiry into the incident.
It is now clear that the two women
could not have entered the enclave
without the connivance of the thantri
and the chief priest, who are the
only ones authorized to touch the
idol. Meanwhile, the Board has also
called for Jayamala and Sudha to be
questioned. If found guilty, they
could be put behind bars.
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A
very sensitive incident and we hope there
is no attempt to claim any undue mileage.
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