Kerala's Temple Shirt Debate Ignites Firestorm

Thiruvananthapuram- A proposal by Sivagiri Mutt head Swami Satchidananda to end the practice of men removing shirts while entering temples in Kerala has ignited a firestorm of debate. The issue, which has drawn support from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has sparked pushback from religious and political leaders.

The controversy began at a December 31 meeting where Swami Satchidananda suggested the reform, a statement met with approval by Vijayan. However, Sukumaran Nair, leader of the Nair Service Society (NSS), swiftly rebuked the CM's endorsement.

On Saturday, State Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar, a member of Vijayan's cabinet, distanced himself from the CM's stance, suggesting that decisions about temple rituals should be left to temple priests. Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan echoed this sentiment, stating that while Vijayan's comments were not inherently wrong, any changes to rituals should be discussed within the relevant communities. Satheesan added, "There is no need for a public debate on such issues as it has to be decided by the particular community."

P.S. Prasanth, President of the Travancore Devaswom Board, emphasized the need for discussion when considering any reforms to temple traditions. Adding his voice to the fray, state BJP President K.Surendran criticized Vijayan's remarks, accusing him and his ilk of wanting to "destroy temples and the rituals and traditions."

The debate comes amidst a backdrop of varying practices across Kerala's temples. While some, particularly those associated with the Hindu Ezhava community, do not require men to remove their shirts, others maintain this long-standing tradition. The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, holds significant importance for the Hindu Ezhava community, the largest within Kerala's Hindu population. The mutt is a sacred place for Hindu Ezhavas, an Other Backward Class.