The proposal by Swami Satchidananda, head of the Sivagiri Mutt, to end the practice of men removing their shirts before entering Kerala temples has sparked a heated debate. This followed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s public support for the proposal at a meeting on December 31st. However, this stance has faced significant opposition.
Sukumaran Nair, president of the Nair Service Society (NSS), immediately criticized the Chief Minister’s involvement, arguing it was inappropriate for him to comment on such matters. The dissent continued on Saturday when state Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar, a former film star and cabinet colleague of Vijayan, suggested that decisions regarding temple practices should be left to the priests of individual temples. He emphasized the unique rules and traditions of each temple and advocated for discussions with the priesthood before any changes are implemented.
Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, while not directly criticizing Vijayan’s statement, highlighted the importance of community consultation before any changes to temple rituals are made. He argued that such decisions should be made within the community and not through public debate. Echoing this sentiment, P.S. Prasanth, president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, which administers temples in southern Kerala, stressed the necessity of discussions regarding any reforms to existing traditions.
The controversy is particularly significant given that Vijayan’s statement was made at the Sivagiri Mutt, a revered site founded by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru and central to the Ezhava community, a large OBC group within the Hindu community. Interestingly, temples associated with the Ezhava community, including those under the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalama Yogam, do not require men to remove their shirts for entry.
Adding fuel to the fire, state BJP President K. Surendran strongly condemned Vijayan’s comments, accusing him of attempting to undermine temple rituals and traditions. The debate continues, highlighting the complex interplay of religious practices, political opinions, and community sensitivities in Kerala.