Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP), the highest decision-making body of sadhus and mahants in the world, has stated that women are pujyanya (liable for worship) and should not be barred from mandirs. “There might be security issues, as the deities are draped with gold and jewellery, but it should be looked into,” the ABAP said.
Speaking to The Asian Age on Friday, ABAP president Mahant Harigiriji Maharaj said, “We worship Goddess Durga, Goddess Laxmi, Devi Padmawati and others, who are in the female roop (avatar). Similarly our matas (mothers) and behens (sisters) should not be stopped from entering mandirs. Women should be allowed till the area where common people are allowed. Where the pujari (priest) sits, no one, however great can enter.”
The Maharaj added that there were limitations. “But Dharam (religion) should be to join people not to break society. There were some two to 10 mandirs in India where women are not allowed. They also include Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra. Women are not barred from entering the remaining mandirs,” he said. The ABAP belongs to Shaiva sect and 10 Akhadas come under it.
“Politicians from any party should be savdhan (careful) about politicising or debating this issue, which is a purely a religious one. But society does not appear serious about it. Women should be given man-sanman (respect) and equality,” Mahant Harigiriji stated.
The issue of granting entry to women is being debated due to the Ranragini Bhumata Brigade (RBB) of Pune. Activists of the group led by Trupti Desai, Pushpak Kewadkar and others tried to stage a mass entry in the Shani Shingnapur temple on Republic Day and were detained about 65 km from the town.
Meanwhile, there was confusion in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, on Thursday after a mobile message was circulated stating that women would hold another agitation here over entry to the Trimbakeshwar Mandir. Police have cordoned off the area, while women gathered in large numbers in the town. Two activists, Sujata Patil and her daughter-in-law Poonam, had given a memorandum to the Trimbakeshwar Devasthan urging that women be allowed into the temple.
