But we see that certain temples in Goa do not allow people from certain castes to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, and so on. While the debate about the Shri Navadurga Temple of Madkai is being held, the recent decision of the Bombay High Court is a ray of hope. In its decision dated 1 April, the Bombay High Court rightly observed that it is a woman’s fundamental right to enter a temple, and the duty of the government to protect such right. Chief Justice Waghela and Justice Sonak (our own Goan personality) should be commended for such a decision. Their Lordships have paved the way further for nondiscriminatory worship in Hindu temples across Maharashtra.
While the issue in the aforesaid case was about the Shani Shinganapur Temple in Maharashtra, this decision shall have a wide impact. I hope that in light of this decision, the temple Mahajans, trustees and management boards in Goa shall ensure that all Hindus get equal treatment in the temple. It is unfair to see that a person belonging to a certain caste enters the sanctum sanctorum and performs the abhishekha, while others have to wait in the sabhamandap and seek the blessings of the deity.
Now, the era is of women standing at par with men when it comes to religion. The Church of England has already ordained women bishops. With a progressive and forward looking Pope Francis, the Roman Catholic Church may also see such progressive change in the future. Few decades back, Hindus had only male priests. But when I was working in Pune prior to my retirement about a decade ago, the trend of women priests started. Now, many temples including the famed Pandharpur temple, have women priests. I had the privilege to visit the Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple in Mangalore, about a year ago. Thanks to the initiative taken by the temple trustees headed by Janardan Poojary, the temple has women priests. These are all progressive steps.
The Almighty made no bias between genders. It is we humans who have discriminated about own fellow humans based on caste, religion, sex, etc. I hope that our religious institutions irrespective of religion, become more accessible in equal amount, to all regardless of social divisions.
