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WASHINGTON, DC (June 5, 2007). According to Indian newspaper reports, priests at the famous Guruvayur Temple in Kerala State conducted a purification ritual after India’s Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi and his family conducted the minister’s grandson’s Annaprashana ceremony at the temple. The ceremony, one of the 16 Hindu traditional rituals (samskaras), is performed when the child is given sold food (“anna”) for the first time.
The priests claimed to have performed the “purification ceremony” because the minister’s wife is Christian. The minister and his wife, Maria, however, have brought up their children in the Hindu tradition, according to newspaper reports. The minister denounced the “arrogance” of the temple’s priests and reported feeling humiliated that a punyaham (purification ritual) was carried out after the annaprashana ceremony.
“It is time to revamp these age-old rules, especially as regards to non-Hindus, women or so-called lower castes entering the temple while maintaining all other cleanliness rules,” Dr. Mihir Meghani, President, HAF said. “Traditions have their place and they provide a culture its shape and essence; however, when these traditions conflict with our modern sensibilities about equality, humanity, justice, and goodness, those rites and rituals which rob individuals and groups of their respect and humanity should be stopped.”
A cause for optimism among the Foundation’s leaders, however, is that nearly all modern Hindu priests and spiritual leaders are in favor of reforms to entry temple rules. Even in Kerala, priests are meeting today towards a temple entry proclamation that would abolish outdated standards. But the Foundation is concerned by reports that the Kerala state government is considering legislation to change temple entry rules.
“We are confident that temple leaders and priests will make decisions that reflect the tolerant and expansive views of most Hindus in their communities,” Dr. Meghani asserted. “As such, we firmly oppose efforts by the Marxist Kerala state government to insinuate itself into the active dialogue we are seeing amongst practicing Hindus today.
The Hindu American Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3), non-partisan organization, promoting the Hindu and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism.
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