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Hindu Temples Where Women are Denied Entry – Hope Such a List Do Not Exist in Near Future

Couple of Hindu Temples in India denies entry to women – this is mostly associated with the menstruation cycle of women and some due to superstition. It must be noted here that majority of the South Indian temples do not allow devotees inside the sanctum sanctorum – touching the murti is not allowed. This is applicable to all devotees irrespective of gender. But there are some temples that do not permit women even inside the temple premises and this article is about those temples. Below is the list and hope such a list never exists in near future.

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala
Women between 10 and 50 years of age are not allowed to enter the temple complex. The reason sighted is that Lord Ayyappa is a Brahmachari or celibate. Another reason is that women cannot perform the 41 day Vratam - women between the age of 10 and 50 will not be physically capable of observing `vratham' for 41 days on physiological grounds (menstruation cycle).

The matter is presently under the consideration of the Supreme Court of India.

Patbausi Satra in Assam
Women are denied entry again based on the menstruation cycle. Again, purity is the issue.
The rule was broken briefly but was re-imposed.

Patbausi Satra is a Vaisnavite monastery established during the 15th century. Vaishnavite Saint Sankardev spent eighteen years of his life in the satra. He composed many devotional works here.

Mawali Mata Temple, Dhamtari in Chhattisgarh
Adi Shakti is worshipped at Mawali Mata Temple, which is located around 5 km from Dhamtari. The story here is that Mawali Mata once came in the dream of an important person of the region and told that she is a virgin girl who has not menstruated and therefore women should not seek her blessings.
The main temple is now only accessible to men and for women there is a small shrine in the temple complex to take the blessings of Mawali Mata.

Pushkar Kartikeya Temple
Kartikeya, son of Shiva, is another deity with whom Hindu women are having issues. Interestingly, in South India Kartikeya is known as Muruga and there are no such restrictions.

Women do not visit Kartik Shrines in western and northern parts of India. Women have darshan of Kartikeya only on Kartik Purnima day. (read about this interesting ritual in this article)

Lord Kartik is Brahmachari, or celibate, in the Pushkar Kartikeya Temple. The belief is that he curses the women who enter his shrine. Therefore, women avoid the temple.

Majority of the temples in India display a board asking women not to enter the temple during menstruation period.

Hindu Blog View
Menstruation is celebrated in a many temples across India, especially at the Kamakya Devi Temple in Assam and at the Chengannur MahadevaTemple in Kerala. Mother Goddess worshipped in these temples menstruates. Then a festival is observed.

The teachings of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) are rooted in nature and creation is the important aspect of Nature. By trying to cover up menstruation, we are denying creation itself and thereby questioning our own birth.

Without Shakti even Shiva is Shava (inert).

Ardhanarishwara concept clearly demonstrates that man and woman appear from a single source.

All living beings arise and merge in that single Supreme Source – called by many names by human beings who are under the influence of Maya. All difference end when we realize the truth.

Those who keep women or any living being, out of a temple or sacred place associated with Hindus are doing it out of ignorance or have selfish motives. Some of the reasons for denying entry to women are purely superstitious.

If a Hindu woman wants to enter a shrine for worshiping, then no force in the world should be allowed to stop her.