Jottings - Slice of life - 239 ( The unconditional opening of spiritual doors at Sabarimala)

Jottings - Slice of life - 239 ( The unconditional opening of spiritual doors at Sabarimala)

The problem with organized religion of any kind is that it quickly loses its religiosity, and descends into mechanical rituals, stagnant dogma, archaic ideas, relentless fanaticism and unfettered authoritarianism. Furthermore such institutions become extended arms of the state, and seek to achieve political and social gains by exercising the machinery of religious systems. Edward Gibbon, the great historian whose panoramic view of Rome’s rise and fall, still resonates across ages writes in the second book of his voluminous history “ The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful”. His words apply even today to all organized religions. A study of Human civilization has demonstrated, again and again, that the truth Man seeks within, cannot be touched through any formal means. In J Krishnamurti’s words “ truth is a pathless land…”; at best, popular religions and its strict rules of conduct can lend a hand in keeping society on track preventing simmering tendencies of crime and anarchy from bubbling up. It doesn’t serve the purpose of religious awakening — if there is anything like it at all. The great mystics of all ages, the men and women who managed to breakthrough the shackles of thought are ironically those who have cast aside the burden of their own faiths, or transcended them through a truer understanding of essence of life.

The issue of celibacy, and the spiritual motif of pilgrimage have been strong pillars of organized faith throughout history. While celibacy, sex, repression, control over impulses, natural biological rhythms and all the rest of it have always had a predominantly female bias applicable to women in reproductive age and not so much to men who could get away with anything; pilgrimages have fortunately been open to both sexes . Whether it be the yearning of the muslims to bow their heads at mecca at least once during their life time or the christians wanting to kiss the holy sepulcher at Vatican or holy spots around Jerusalem, women always had the religious sanction to make these holy trips, not as a concession but as a human right. Of three major religions of the world - Christian , Islam and Hinduism, it is Hinduism alone which imposes the maximum number of restrictions on the female, especially, religious injunctions affecting normal day to day life. The Menstrual cycle, which common sense reveals, as a necessary biological function to help continue the species, has always come under tremendous scrutiny and manipulation by the Hindus. That a female who menstruates is unclean is indoctrinated from childhood, so much so, it becomes part of the girl’s psyche affecting her in innumerable ways throughout life. Her very being is dictated by the rhythms and peculiarities of these few days in the month. Coming-of-age rites are not uncommon in human history. Such rites signified the time girls can start reproducing , nothing more. There were no moral caveats or social restrictions to it. To the contrary, the girl often gains higher position in the community after her maturity. She is treated with great respect, and often given more responsibilities and access to social and family affairs than earlier. But in India, even today through some convoluted interpretations of caste and creed over millennia, when the girls attains physical maturity, she loses her freedom to remain as she was, and worse still, her life style, living interactions, freedom and thinking is restricted. Elaborate ceremonies are established, family and friends congregate, evocative prayers and rituals are performed, clothes are conspicuously exchanged underlining the need for “modesty”. The young girl going through this period feels the burden of thousands of years descending on her young shoulders crushing forever the inner springs of joy and freedom hitherto enjoyed. Families living in the cities with access to modern education and lifestyle have to large extent moved away from this spectacle. But vast majority of India still lives in its rural townships, and in that conservative and traditional surroundings this archaic and throttling tale is daily repeated in millions of household. It is women living at the edges of metropolitan cities, who often feel the brunt of all that is outdated, irrelevant and discardable. Modernity escapes this net.

The recent judgement of the Supreme court of India to allow Women of all ages to visit Sabarimala - holy shrine for vast majority of Indian ( Hindus and Non-hindus who have to provide a written affidavit that they are believers) is ground breaking, and a long awaited ruling. For years now, this mountain shrine has been protective of who can visit and who cannot. Traditionalist will argue that religious practices and injunctions cannot fall under legal jurisdiction, and religious priests who run the show are free to stipulate conditions as fit; However, it is important to realize that public spaces, especially places of worship cannot be discriminated against. When the democratic constitution of American was debated and written, James Madison, one of founding fathers , wrote: “…the equal right of every citizen to the free exercise of his religion according to the dictates of conscience is held by the same tenure with all our other rights”. The key here is equal legal right of every citizen - male or female or transexual-to do what one chooses to do, including religious views ad practices. To forcibly prevent women between 10 years and 50 years from not entering a place of religious worship even if they have the religious fervor and inclination to do so is clearly unacceptable. Shamefully , such a rule has prevailed for decades now in Sabarimala. Over the years, there have several instances when officiating priests and volunteers have blocked women on suspicion of being unclean. I shudder to think we still consider ourselves democratic. Women must have the freedom to choose in all matters. They can, out of their own will and volition, refrain from going to Sabarimala, if uncomfortable with their bodily condition . That is their choice and concern. But to quasi legally prevent a devout women to undertake a pilgrimage by means of contrived and baseless religious injunctions, and to threaten divine retribution if found violating, is nothing short of diabolic. I am reminded of the Spanish inquisition. Worship should be open to all, without any bias . This is the fundamental truth of all religions , if at all there is one.

The problem, however, in a country like India ,where the judgements of the Apex court are sometimes treated casually or with indifference, such landmark decisions may not have any effect on what happens on the field. Within days of the ruling, strong Hindu groups have issued statements gently issuing threats to those who wish to violate age old customs, or subtly hinted that they cannot guarantee what conservative temple-goers may do when they see women trying to cross traditional boundaries based on this decision. In other words, there is a possibility of harassment or emotional violence on women enroute to Sabarimala. In that dense human chain inching up the narrow forest pathways up the hill , with bodies pushing and jostling against other, anything could happen. History is testimony that sabarimala has had stampedes in the past, and with ruling such as these, more can be expected. After all, there is a God who can be angry over what mortals do! And all calamities can be conveniently relegated to divine retribution!!.

When I got up today morning, I set out to write an essay on a different topic; but as I started typing, what emerged was this piece. The first line of this essay was the one I woke up with. I dont know what went on subconsciously that led to this line; but somehow , as hemmingway said about writing” All you have to do is to write one true sentence.….”, So i put down that line, and the rest followed without interruption.

God bless…

yours in mortality,

Bala