Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench has ruled that non-Hindus who refuse to affirm their reverence for the presiding deity cannot enter Agamic temples, warning that temple customs cannot be made to “kneel down” before “chamchagiri” and electoral optics.
In a sharp observation on political leaders’ temple visits, a division bench of Justices GR Swaminathan and P Murugan pulled up a TVK MLA, Badrudeen Mustafa, over his recent visit to the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, pointing to the irony of a political leader who had called for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma entering the temple premises during a religious ceremony.
advertisement
The court, however, praised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who is a Christian by faith, for signing an undertaking affirming his reverence for Goddess Meenakshi before entering the temple. The judges described the Chief Minister’s approach as inclusive, emphasising that he was not asked to convert to Hinduism but only to affirm his respect for the deity.
Agamic temples are Hindu temples that follow the rituals, rules of worship, architecture and consecration procedures prescribed in ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Agamas. The Madurai Meenakshi temple is one among them.
The ruling came on a public interest litigation, which sought strict enforcement of the Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Authorisation Act and accountability for violations of statutory provisions governing entry into temples.
‘AGAMA TEMPLES ARE NOT TOURIST PLACES’
The High Court bench made it clear that its judgment was confined to Agamic temples. Emphasising the sanctity of these temple premises, the court said even entry into the premises could not be permitted to non-Hindus who display religious markers associated with their faith and do not affirm their reverence for the deity concerned.
Such an affirmation, it said, must be made in the format prescribed by the institution.
The judges drew inspiration from an earlier ruling, observing that the entire temple precinct must be treated as sacrosanct. They also referred to the statutory provisions governing temple entry in Tamil Nadu.
The bench also clarified that Agamic temples constitute a distinct category because of their prescribed religious traditions. It noted that the sanctum sanctorum of such temples is beyond the reach of all Hindus except designated priests, including Shivacharyas, Dikshitars and Bhattars, or those performing priestly functions.
The court contrasted these practices with those followed in certain North Indian temples, such as Kashi, where Hindu devotees may personally touch the Shivling and perform abhishekam.
The judges also clarified that the ruling did not apply universally to all places of worship or religious traditions. They cited Lord Ayyappa, who has devotees across religious communities and Shirdi Sai Baba, whom both Hindus and Muslims have claimed as their own.
COURT SLAMS TVK MLA MUSTAFA
The bench singled out Badrudeen Mustafa, the TVK MLA representing Madurai Central, where the famed Meenakshi Amman temple is located.
According to the order, Mustafa entered the temple premises soon after his election, claiming that he had a right to inspect whether adequate amenities were being provided. The court also referred to his visit to the temple towers during the Kumbabishekam ceremony.
The judges questioned the conduct in light of Mustafa’s reported declaration that Sanatana Dharma ought to be eradicated.
The order also referred to a video circulating on social media that purportedly showed people wearing skull caps pushing their way into the Arunachaleswarar temple in Thiruvannamalai despite strong protests from devotees. The court observed that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) staff had remained mute spectators during the incident.
Taking a broader view of political leaders’ conduct at religious institutions, the bench criticised what it described as political sycophancy and the use of religious displays for electoral gains.
The judges observed that some political leaders who subscribe to non-Hindu faiths make a point of visiting temples while prominently displaying religious markings on their foreheads.
“Not only Chamchagiri but also optics matter in a democracy,” the court said, adding that the electoral value of such displays was obvious.
It further held that the usages and customs of temples could not be made to yield to political posturing or displays intended to appeal to voters.
“We hold that usages and customs of temple cannot kneel down before such display of Chamchagiri (sycophancy) and optics,” the bench said.
COURT PRAISES VIJAY’S APPROACH AS INCLUSIVE
In contrast to the conduct it criticised, the court cited Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s visit to the Meenakshi Amman temple as an example of following the prescribed protocol.
The judges noted that Vijay, who is Christian by faith, worshipped Goddess Meenakshi after signing the required undertaking.
“A Christian by faith, he was not asked to convert to Hinduism. He was only requested to affirm his reverence for the deity. This is what we call as an inclusive approach,” the bench observed.
The court’s remarks distinguished between a non-Hindu visitor who agrees to respect the deity and the institution’s religious practices and those who enter temple premises without complying with the prescribed requirements.
The judges stressed that affirming reverence for a deity does not require a visitor to change their religious faith. Instead, the undertaking serves as an affirmation of respect for the deity and the customs of the temple.
The court cited the chief minister’s conduct to illustrate how the prescribed protocol could be followed without demanding religious conversion.
The bench emphasised on protecting the religious practices and customs of Agamic temples and ensuring that statutory provisions governing entry are enforced.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
