The Supreme Court questioning the age old practice restricting of women ( middle aged) to the sanctum sanctorum of Ayyappa Temple is bound to deeply hurt the religious sentiments the world over. Is it not preposterous on the part of the Apex court to ask for proof from the temple board that the women didn't enter sanctum sanctorum some 1500 hundred years ago,? The court found fault with the board against the discrimination as it goes against the Fundamental Rights of a citizen. Again a similar incident happened near Shani Singanapur in Maharashtra where women under the leadership of Trupti Desai followed by hundreds of women activists were prohibited entry into the sanctum sanctorum on the day on which India was declared Republic. It was said 400 years old tradition couldn't be broken. The women were permitted to offer worship God outside the platform which the women activists denied. It may be noted that that there are no such restrictions in many other temples of the country. The Supreme Court must have taken a prima facie view that temples can not bar devotees on basis of gender but agreed to examine. The spiritual temple of Lord Ayyappa has been restricting the entry of women from young girls after puberty to those yet to attain menopause long as the temples be it Ayyappa Or Shani Dev remain religious places par excellence it is up to the devotees to stipulate the rules and regulations. The matters of faith by their very nature are outside the ambit of reason and logic
so the Kerala Govt has submitted an affidavit that banning entry of women of menstrual age in historic Sabarimala temple has been prevailing from the times immemorial and it is for the priests to take view. Infact a temple is not a public museum or picnic place where the right to congregate is unrestricted. There must have been certain unwritten rules and traditions being followed for centuries. For instance one rule observed in the case of Sabarimala is the observance of Vratam for 41 days which can never be changed to suit to a section or some sections of people. Infact it is the prerogative of temple management to impose restrictions while it is to be noted that this is one temple where there is no discrimination on the grounds of caste, creed or religion. A temple is a sacred place for devotees and a devotee is expected to comply with the rules and respect the traditions.
   To me it appears that women in India have

many problems like Dowry, Domestic violence, Eve- teasing, Harassment at work place etc. Agitators like Trupti Desai should focus on such problems instead leading women into a state of unnecessary confusion. Women's dignity will in no way be degraded if they don't enter a temple or a place of worship. Indians have some age old traditions and customs which have to be followed without any resistance. Generally speaking Hindu women who have periods refrain from doing religious rituals. There are few temples in India where the non- Hindus are prevented from entering into the temple. Till Hindu community and Priests are not ready to change the tradition for whatever reasons, is there any need  for any legal intervention and the instant cases of Sabarimala or Shanisinganapur can not be seen through the prism of gender discrimination. All religions enjoy equal amount of respect and status in India. Such age old customs should better be left unquestioned as neither they are a threat to social harmony nor a challenge to the basic human rights.