By P.T. Bopanna
The committee which manages the Talacauvery temple has recommend barring of women from climbing the Brahmagiri hill, the towering peak that rises from the temple. There are steps from the temple leading to the Brahmagiri peak.
The decision to bar women from climbing the Brahmagiri was taken at the ongoing ‘Ashtamangala Prashne’ ritual held at Talacauvery.
The suggestion to bar women in the age group of 10 to 50 years was taken on the suggestion of astrologer Narayana Puduval and approved by temple tantri Neeleshwara Padmanabha. The temple committee is headed by politician B.S. Thammaiah.
The temple astrologer was quoted as saying: “Women dressed in shorts and inappropriate clothes are ruining the sanctity of the place.”
A source said the main reason for barring women from climbing the Brahmagiri peak was to prevent women with ‘periods’ from polluting the sanctity of the place.
Another suggestion made by the committee was to forbid devotees from taking a holy dip at Talacuavery.
Speaking to this reporter, Dr Sannuvanda Kaverappa, who is one of the temple committee members, wanted the state government to declare the temple as a pilgrimage centre to retain the sanctity of the place.
Since the Talacauvery temple comes under the muzrai department of the state government, the government should reject the suggestion to bar women from climbing the Brahmagiri peak in the interest of gender justice.