AYYAPPA DOESN’T WANT WOMEN AT SABARI: LAWYER

Women between 10 to 50 yrs are not allowed as God is celibate

As per custom and long tradition, women in the 10-50 age group aren’t allowed at Sabarimala as the manifestation of God in the Ayyappa temple is a celibate and the deity doesn’t want the presence of women in this age group, senior advocate K. Parasaran argued in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Mr Parasaran made this submission before a Constitution bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Rohinton Nariman, A.M. Khanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra, hearing a batch of petitions challenging the ban on entry of women between 10 and 50 years old.

Mr Parasaran was appearing for Nair Society, one of the intervenors in the case in the Supreme Court.

As per the custom and long tradition, women in the age group of 10 to 50 are not allowed as manifestation of God in the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala is a celibate and the deity does not want the presence of women in this age group, argued senior advocate K. Parasaran in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Mr Parasaran made this submission before a Constitution Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Rohinton Nariman, A.M. Khanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra hearing a batch of petitions challenging the ban on entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 in this temple.

Mr Parasaran, appearing for Nair Society, one of the intervenors, said Sabarimala was a unique temple where other than Hindus, Christians, Muslims and even foreigners are allowed entry. But as per the custom and long tradition, women in the age of 10 to 50 are not allowed, as manifestation of God in this temple is a celibate.

He submitted that if the court were to abolish the practice, the very character of the religious institution will be irreparably altered which affects the rights of devotees under Article 25(1). He submitted that the present case does not involve a social issue but a religious issue. By using 25(2), “Your Lordship will reform a religion out of its identity,” he cautioned the court.

He said not only the perception of the worshipper but also what is being worshipped is also important. If a devotee feels that he is not worshipping the idol of a Brahmachari, he may not go to that temple. In all other Ayyappa temples in Kerala women are allowed entry without any discrimination.

He said the concept is the presence of women in the age of 10 and 50 will disturb the penance of the Lord Ayyappa and hence the Lord himself does not want their presence. Mr. Parasaran that Lord Ayyappa's character as a Naishtika Brahmachari is protected by the Constitution and judiciary can’t interfere with it.

Referring to the observation made by Justice Chandrachud on Tuesday and the ban of women is due to the patriarchial system, Mr Parasaran submitted that 96 per cent of the women in Kerala are educated and it is a matrilineal society.

“Your Lordship will reform a religion out of its identity,” counsel K. Parasaran said.