Continuing its anti-Hindu stand in the Sabarimala temple controversy, the Kerala state government has said that Hindus don’t have exclusive right over the temple. The Left government says that Muslims and Christians also have to be consulted in the matter of Sabarimala temple.

Opinion
       24/11/2018
                1562.

SUB : Continuing its anti-Hindu stand in the Sabarimala temple controversy, the Kerala state government has said that Hindus don’t have exclusive right over the temple. The Left government says that Muslims and Christians also have to be consulted in the matter of Sabarimala temple.

REF : Sabarimala temple is ‘secular’, must consult Wakf Board and Christian organisations before any decision, says Kerala govt : OPINDIA STAFF : NOVEMBER 12, 2018

Kerala government has submitted an affidavit responding to a petition seeking to restrict entry into Sabarimala only for Hindu devotees

On 12th October, the Kerala government submitted an affidavit responding to a petition filed at Kerala High Court. Lawyer T G Mohandas had filed the petition seeking regulation of non-Hindu and non-idol worshipers into the shrine of Lord Ayyappa.

In September this year, the Supreme Court had allowed women of all ages to enter the shrine. After that, several women of different religions, and self-declared atheists had tried to enter the temple. The petition was filed in response to such attempt Responding to this affidavit, Kerala government has stated that Sabarimala is a secular temple. It also says that religion can’t be a basis for restriction of entry of devotees.

The affidavit tries to bring some new facts to establish secular credential of Sabarimala temple. It mentions that KJ Yesudas has sung the Harivarasanam song played at the temple. KJ Yesudas is Christian by birth and a Sabarimala devotee, it adds. It says that several Christians and Muslims are Sabarimala Ayyappa devotees. They conduct Sabarimala pilgrimage every year.

The state government adds that it is a ‘debatable fact’ that temple was a worship place for tribals. It also says that there is a belief that it was a Buddhist temple. The word Saranam is derived from Buddhism, it adds. The affidavit also tries to establish that the Shrine has links with Vavar Mosque.

Before taking any decision on the petition, the Wakf Board, Muslim Organisations, Vavar Trust, Christian Organisations, tribal organisations must be consulted, says the affidavit. It says that larger public interest and secular issues are involved in the matter. Hence the court can’t adjudicate the matter without publication in newspapers.

In an earlier hearing of the petition, the Kerala High Court had said that Sabarimala belongs to all, not just Hindus.

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NOTE :

1. Kerala govt's new stand on Sabarimala irks Hindus

The Left government in Kerala has only frustrated sections of Hindus further by submitting in the court of law that Sabarimala is a secular temple. It has added that the entry of devotees cannot be restricted on the grounds of religion or caste. It also said that Sabarimala must consult Wakf board and Christian organizations before taking any decision.

Commenting on the opinion, commentator Pratyasha Rath said, "Sabarimala is a 'secular' institution and hence Waqf board and Muslim and Christian institutions also have a stake in it!!! Sign of our times. Also a timely reminder (for many including me) of how to understand and engage with syncretism."

"Show us any other temple, church or mosque in the world deemed secular. And what right do atheist communists have to say what is religious and what is secular, particularly Sabarimala visited by millions of devotees every year?" asked Dr. David Frawley.

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2. Sabarimala Is A ‘Secular Temple’, Can’t Restrict Entry Of Non-Hindus: Kerala Govt Tells HC [Read Affidavit]...

“Several Christians and Muslims are devotees of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple and conduct pilgrimage at Sabarimala every year.” Opposing the plea seeking prohibition of entry of non-Hindus in Sabarimala temple, the Kerala Government has stated before the Kerala High Court that Sabarimala is a secular temple and entry of devotees cannot be restricted on the ground of religion.

TG Mohandas, a lawyer, had filed a writ petition seeking to regulate the entry of non-Hindu and non-idol worshipers into the shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala.  He had also sought a declaration from the court that permitting entry of non-Hindu and non-idol worshipers into the sannidhanam of Lord Ayyappa is violative of Rule 3 framed under Kerala Places of Public Worship (Authorization of Entry) Act, 1965.

Last week, the bench of Justice PR Ramachandra Menon and Justice Devan Ramachandran had orally observed that Sabarimala belonged to all and not just Hindus. However, the bench had adjourned the matter and sought response of the state, in this regard.

The government through its State Attorney KV Sohan filed its preliminary objection today.

It said: “It is a historically accepted fact that Sabarimala is a secular temple where entry of devotees is not restricted on the ground of any caste or religion.”.

It also added that it is a ‘debatable fact’ that temple was a worship place for tribals. The government also submitted that there is a school of thought that it was a Buddhist temple.

The government also submitted that Muslim and Christian organisations, Wakf Board and Vavar Trust are to be heard in this case.

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3. Kerala Govt Opposes Plea To Restrain Non-Hindus In Sabarimala Shrine, Calls It 'Secular Temple'The government submitted that it was an openly debated fact that Sabarimala was originally a place of worship which belonged to tribals.

The Kerala government on Monday opposed a plea by a BJP functionary, seeking to restrain non-Hindus and non-idol worshippers inside the Sabarimala temple, saying the hill shrine was a "secular temple" where devotees of all faiths visit for offering prayers.

In its preliminary objection filed in the court against BJP functionary T G Mohan Das's plea, the government submitted that it was an openly debated fact that Sabarimala was originally a place of worship which belonged to tribals.

There is also another school of thought that it was a Buddhist temple and the word 'Saranam' was derived from Buddhism, it said.

Das argued that the entry of non-Hindus and non-idol worshippers into the 'Sannidhanam' (temple complex) violated the Supreme Court verdict and rules of the Kerala Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act, 1965.

Rejecting the claim, the CPI(M)-led state government said it was a historically accepted fact that Sabarimala is a secular temple, where entry of devotees is not restricted on the ground of any caste or religion.

"It is also a fact that 'Vavar Nada' (place dedicated to Muslim saint Vavar, believed to be a friend of Lord Ayyappa) at Sannidhanam co-existed with the Sabarimala temple, and
from time immemorial Muslims come and pray there as well as at the Sabarimala temple," the government said.

It pointed out that en route to Sabarimala at Erumeli, there is a mosque 'Vavar Palli', where all Ayyappa devotees, irrespective of caste and religion traditionally offer prayers and only then proceed towards Sabarimala.

The government said the famous 'Petta Thullal', an essential part of the Sabarimala pilgrimage, starts from the Vavar mosque.

It submitted that the famous 'Harivarasanam', the lullaby of Lord Ayyappa, was sung by Padma Bhushan awardee K J Yesudas, who is a Christian by birth.

The singer is understood to be a Lord Ayyappa devotee and used to visit Sabarimala and pray there, the government said.

The state said it was a well known fact that several Christians and Muslims are devotees of Lord Ayyappa and go on a pilgrimage to Sabarimala every year.

It said the Waqf Board, Muslim organisations, Vavar Trust, Christian organisations and tribal outfits were necessary parties before taking any decision on the petition.

The government also said when larger public interest of different religions and secular issues was involved, the issue cannot be adjudicated by the court without publication in
newspapers and the media.

Earlier, considering the petition by the BJP functionary, the high court had observed that the Lord Ayyappa temple belonged to all and it was a shrine where devotees of all faiths could enter to offer prayers.

Kerala has been on a boil after the September 28 Supreme Court verdict, permitting women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple, with right-wing and Hindu outfits on a warpath over the state government's decision to go ahead and implement the top court verdict.

The hill shrine had recently witnessed protests by devotees against the attempt by some young women, including journalists, to enter the temple.

The Kerala High Court had recently come down heavily on the agitation at Sabarimala.

(PTI)

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OPINION :

1. THE NON-SENSE COMMUNISTS UNNECESSARILY POKING IN SANATANA DHARMAM WHICH THESE IDIOTS NEVER UNDERSTOOD.

2. NOW AFTER THEIR ATTEMPTS TO INTRODUCE YOUNG GIRLS UNDER REPRODUCTIVE AGE WITH POLICE ESCORT TO SANNIDHANAM, MISERABLY FAILED;

3. THEY INTRODUCED BRUTAL POLICE FORCE UNDER FOOLISH IPS IDIOTS, AND JUST MADE SABARIMALA  A NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMP, TORTURING THE DEVOTEES;

4. DEVOTEES FROM ALL THREE STATES TAMIL NADU, ANDHRA, KARNATAKA ALONG WITH KERALA DEVOTEES PROTESTED THE COMMUNISTS AND ITS POLICE WHO YET TO KNOW WHAT IS HUMANITY;

5. AFTER DISASTROUS DEFEAT AND TOO MANY SELF-GOALS THE COMMUNISTS, NOW PLAY A NEW CARD OF SECULARISM AND DRAG MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS IN THIS CONTROVERSY CREATED BY COMMUNISTS.

LAST WORD :

1. IT IS ALMOST TIME TO KICK THESE COMMUNISTS FROM POWER;

2. COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF COMMUNISM IS THE IMMEDIATE REMEDY TO SAVE SANATANA DHARMAM;

3. THESE RASCALS ARE HEAVILY BREATHING, OUT OF FRUSTRATION AND DEFEAT;

4. PUNISH THESE BUGGERS AND THROW THEM OUT OF THIS HOLY BHARATHAM;

5. IT IS TIME TO ASK " QUIT INDIA" TO COMMUNISTS, FIRE THE GUNS OF SPIRITUALITY TO BURN THESE BUGGERS, SABARIMALA IS NOT FOR EVILS LIKE MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, COMMUNISTS AND ALL POLITICAL BUGGERS MAINLY CONGRESS.

JAIHIND
VANDE MATARAM