Swami Sathchidananda, the head of Kerala’s Sivagiri Mutt, on Tuesday called for an end to the practice of men removing their upper garment before entering temples, describing it as “evil” and outdated. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan supported the proposal, calling it a potential social revolution.
“It is an evil practice. In the past, this practice (removing the upper garment) was started to ensure that punool (a sacred thread worn by the upper castes) could be seen. That custom still continues in temples. Sree Narayana society wants that practice to be changed. There is no doubt that this is an evil practice. In Sree Narayana temples, this practice does not exist. A timely change is required in this regard, ”Sathchidananda said during the annual Sivagiri pilgrimage, The Indian Express reported.
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The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, serves as a pilgrimage center for the Ezhava Hindu community and advocates for inclusivity under the principle “One Caste, One Religion, One God.”
Vijayan, addressing the event, praised the call for reform. “Swami has mentioned a message, which could turn into a major social intervention. The swami has put forward a suggestion that upholds the noble tradition of Guru. I am sure that many places of worship will follow this. There is no need to compel anyone. It is a fact that many practices have changed in tune with the times. The temples associated with the Sree Narayana movement have adopted that change. I hope other places of worship (temples) will also follow that change,” he said.
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The debate on temple dress codes is not new in Kerala. In 2016, the Kerala High Court ruled that women wearing salwar kameez or churidars must add a dhoti to enter the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, upholding the authority of temple priests over such customs.