A prominent Hindu monk in Kerala has called to abolish the long-standing practice of male devotees being required to remove their upper attire before entering temples.
Swami Satchidananda made the statement while addressing a pilgrimage conference in Varkala, Kerala. The head of the famed Sivagiri Mutt, founded by renowned sage-social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, described the practice as a social evil and urged its abolishment, adding that it existed in many temples in the state.
The Mutt is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangha, an organisation established by Guru to propagate his concept of "One Caste, One Religion, One God."
It is a major pilgrimage centre of the backward Ezhava Hindu community in Kerala. Guru fought against superstitions as a social reformer and championed the right of those from the lower caste to enter and worship in temples.
He noted that removing the attire was introduced in the past to ensure that men wore "poonool" (the sacred thread worn by Brahmins), reported PTI.
The monk said that the practice was against the preachings of Sree Narayana Guru and expressed his disappointment with some temples associated with the sage-reformer which are still following it.
"In some temples, people belonging to other religions are not permitted. When some Sree Narayaneeya temples are also found to be following the same, I feel great regret about it," he said.
"Not just that, even many Sree Narayaneeya temples are also adamant in following the practice of removing upper attire (of men). It should be corrected at any cost. Because Sree Narayana Guru was a person who modernised the temple culture," he added.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also attended the programme, backed the monk's call to end the practice and suggested that it could be considered a significant intervention for social reform, according to the report.