THRISSUR: A forum of Hindu organisations and mutts in Kerala, which held a debate here on Saturday, could not reach a consensus on the issue of allowing women at the Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala. The forum, Athmeeya - Acharya - Vidual Sabha, organised the debate in view of the lawsuit pending before the Supreme Court on permitting women of all age groups at Sabarimala.
The majority of the representatives and members of the public, who spoke at the forum, were in favour of upholding the tradition. But the opinions of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Art of Living, Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha and the RSS read out at the forum supported the women’s entry.
“Our aim was to build a consensus on the matter among Hindu saints and organisations, but it could not be reached. But the meeting felt that on matters of belief, it was better to limit the involvement of courts and go by the opinion of the believers and the spiritual leaders of the community,” Mr Rahul Easwar of the Ayyappa Dharma Sena (ADS), one of the organizers of the debate, told DC.
The forum also agreed in general to conduct spiritual classes for the faithful in temples on Saturday evenings. The opinions expressed at the forum would be handed over to Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and submitted before the Supreme Court division bench which is expected to take up the matter later this month. ADS will also implead in the case, Mr Easwar said.
