Nov 5, 2018
VHPA Strongly Condemns Judicial and Political Attack on Hindu Dharma in Kerala
Press Release
The following statement was issued by World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)
World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) strongly condemns the judicial and political attacks on the Hindu dharma, Hindu temples and Hindu mode of worship as evident by the judgement of the Supreme Court of India on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) striking down Rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules, 1965 which was the basis for proscribing entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 years to the Sabarimala temple.
The politicization of the issue is evident by the fact that the Kerala government changed its stance on the issue three times while the issue was litigated based on political expediency. In 2006, the anti-Hindu, Marxist-Leninist LDF government supported the petition and opposed the tradition, in January 2016, the UDF government supported the ban. Later, in 2016 the Marxist-Leninist LDF government initial supported the tradition, and later changed its view and opposed the tradition.
The aftermath of the verdict has validated the worst fears of the Hindu community. This judgement has resulted in encouragement to those who want to promote the right to desecrate, leading to sacrilege instead of right to to worship. VHPA is appalled by the treatment meted to peaceful devotees of Lord Ayyappa. Thousands of devotees braved police brutality instigated by the Marxist-Leninist state government of Kerala, while peacefully protesting the Indian Supreme Court verdict. More than 3000 of them have been summarily arrested.
This kind of judicial and political activism has given fillip to the leftist and anti-Hindu state governments which have been controlling the state temple boards. These boards have been siphoning money from Hindu devotees to larger state sponsored minority appeasement projects.
Hindu temples, from different parts of the world often have their own unique tradition, and they are not meant to discriminatory. For example, the Ayyappa Swami temple at Sabarimala, requires Naishtika Brahmacharya to be followed as precondition for worship. This tradition must be honored by all devotees. VHPA is principally against any form of discrimination on the basis of gender, in temple worship. However, changes to vernacular Hindu traditions must originate from the local Hindu community through internal social consensus, and not imposed from outside the Hindu community. Hindu Dharma has shown propensity for self-reform throughout its history and every reform has made Hindu dharma stronger.
VHPA takes pride in the fact that Hindu traditions and ethos has withstood attacks by anti-Hindu forces for more than a thousand years. These evolutionary yet resilient Hindu practices will prevail against this latest onslaught against Hindu dharma.
About World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)
World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) is the most prominent organization of Hindus in USA. Founded in 1970, it has branches across the country. Hindu Mandir Executive (HMEC), a project of VHPA brings hundreds of Hindu temples across USA on a common platform.