It is indeed heartening to note that our beloved motherland boasts of such temples that not only accord pride of place but also allow them to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the same without any restrictions whatsoever while the menfolk can only enter the same subject to reasonable restrictions.........
In a day where an increasingly oppressive; rampant; domineering; racist and discriminatory patriarchal hegemony has reduced the lives of women to a living hell and placed a series of draconian restrictions on their religious freedom; Aurangabad's Grishneshwar Temple surely does come across as a whiff of fresh air and a lot more besides.........
Strategically located and positioned a mere two hundred metres or so away from the world famous UNESCO heritage sites of the Ajanta and Ellora caves; this two odd hundred old year temple which is visited by more than thirty lakh pilgrims every year not only welcomes women into it's midst with open arms but also accords them the welcome honour of worshipping within the sanctum sanctorum for as long as they desire...........
In a case of reverse discrimination (if one can call it that to begin with); menfolk who visit the precincts of this hallowed temple are expected to divest themselves of their shirts and deposit all leather items like belts; wallets etc adorning their persona with the security personnel before entering the same.........
"Throwing further light on the somewhat unique practices followed within this age old iconic place of worship; one of it's deservedly proud and preening trustees says that this temple has followed this practice of according women pride of place ever since it came into existence and the existing trustees and other temple authorities see no earthly or other reason whatsoever to alter or tamper with these ancient practices that have become the norm over the course of the last two centuries and more"..........
Seconding his thoughts/words; Swati Patil an Aurangabad based home maker who has been gracing this temple for the last three decades and more gushes that she feels at peace with herself and experiences inner peace; tranquility as well as self realisation whenever she steps into the sanctum sanctorum of this iconic structure as no restrictions whatsoever are imposed on her and she can pay obeisance to lord Shiva and his consorts for as long as she desires"..........
One only hopes and prays that divine wisdom begins to dawn on those menfolk who have appropriated unto themselves the right of being the repositories of so called religious wisdom and traditions and also that this sterling paragon of virtue and testament to equality of the two sexes makes them realise the error of their despotic and dictatorial ways while ushering in a welcome and long overdue change in their despotic thought processes;practices and utterances...........
In a day where an increasingly oppressive; rampant; domineering; racist and discriminatory patriarchal hegemony has reduced the lives of women to a living hell and placed a series of draconian restrictions on their religious freedom; Aurangabad's Grishneshwar Temple surely does come across as a whiff of fresh air and a lot more besides.........
Strategically located and positioned a mere two hundred metres or so away from the world famous UNESCO heritage sites of the Ajanta and Ellora caves; this two odd hundred old year temple which is visited by more than thirty lakh pilgrims every year not only welcomes women into it's midst with open arms but also accords them the welcome honour of worshipping within the sanctum sanctorum for as long as they desire...........
In a case of reverse discrimination (if one can call it that to begin with); menfolk who visit the precincts of this hallowed temple are expected to divest themselves of their shirts and deposit all leather items like belts; wallets etc adorning their persona with the security personnel before entering the same.........
"Throwing further light on the somewhat unique practices followed within this age old iconic place of worship; one of it's deservedly proud and preening trustees says that this temple has followed this practice of according women pride of place ever since it came into existence and the existing trustees and other temple authorities see no earthly or other reason whatsoever to alter or tamper with these ancient practices that have become the norm over the course of the last two centuries and more"..........
Seconding his thoughts/words; Swati Patil an Aurangabad based home maker who has been gracing this temple for the last three decades and more gushes that she feels at peace with herself and experiences inner peace; tranquility as well as self realisation whenever she steps into the sanctum sanctorum of this iconic structure as no restrictions whatsoever are imposed on her and she can pay obeisance to lord Shiva and his consorts for as long as she desires"..........
One only hopes and prays that divine wisdom begins to dawn on those menfolk who have appropriated unto themselves the right of being the repositories of so called religious wisdom and traditions and also that this sterling paragon of virtue and testament to equality of the two sexes makes them realise the error of their despotic and dictatorial ways while ushering in a welcome and long overdue change in their despotic thought processes;practices and utterances...........
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