RSS supports ban on women in Shani Shingnapur temple

RSS-mouthpiece has justified the ban on on women entry in sacred santrum of Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra.

New Delhi: Amidst raging row over ban on women entry in sacred santrum of Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh mouthpiece has reportedly justified the age old practice and at the same time labelled the arguments of people protesting to end the 400-old tradition as 'wrong'.

However, the pro RSS-journal also called for a peaceful dialogue between the two sides to sort out the issue.

RSS mouthpiece 'Organiser' editorial read, "In case of Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra, there is a 400-year-old tradition of banning women from entering its sanctum sanctorum. The women activists from the Bhumata Brigade led by Trupti Desai tried to forcefully enter the temple to break this tradition.

Though there can be genuine concerns regarding space for women in religious matter, the arguments of rationalist protestors in support of defying the tradition are wrong on at least three counts."

Titled Reformation through respectful dialogue, the editorial said, "From Sabrimala to Shani Shingnapur, liberals, seculars, rationalists, feminists are against the alleged discrimination against women in religious affairs.

"While in Sabrimala, entry of all women between 10 and 50 years is banned due to ritualistic practice and tradition, in Shani Shingnapur there is a 400-year-old tradition of banning women from entering its sanctum sanctorum," it said.

"In both the cases, it is a matter of faith. The trustees, villagers and devotees of both the places believe that the tradition has some reason which has to be followed. Rationality has no place for faith or tradition.

"The rationalists have to explain whether they want to forcefully worship the God they do not believe in or to respect the sentiments of the people who believe in. People who do not have the courage to question the heinous practices in organised religion should do away with this age-old practice of making Hindu way of life a convenient target," the journal said.

"Hindu society has a long cherished reformist tradition as even during the freedom struggle many thinkers argued for social reforms through legislators by the British," the RSS mouthpiece said while talking about reforms during the British-rule in India.

"On the other hand, nationalists like Tilak opposed it as British did not represent the will of the people but at the same time they believed that reformation has to come within through a process of dialogue. The same director is reiterated by the RSS Sarsanghachalak in his Vijayadashami speech last year," it said.