Editorial Message, 19th April 2007 by Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan, Hon. Director, IISH

Perfect Editorial of Indian Express !

The editorial of Indian express gives every message to everyone on the issue of the entry of non Hindus to temples. The editorial of IE titled Spiritual “Das’hing (Why embarrass Yesudas with unwanted row) !

“It will be more prudent on part of Devaswom Minister comrade G Sudhakaran to express extra caution while mooting revolutionary demands like allowing singer Yesudas to enter the conservative fort of Guruvayur temple. That Yesudas possesses enough spiritual reasons to enter any temple in the country is not a point of debate . His soulful rendering that sing paens to gods and goddesses makes him more a Hindu than thousands of temple goers in Kerala. This newspaper strongly feels that Yesudas has the Karmic right to enter a temple than many Hindus who consider it a birthright. But we feel that the controversy could have been avoided had the Minister invested some social thinking before shooting off a letter to the Guruvayoor Adminstation, Sudhakaran should have at least realized that Government orders can at best open doors but not more hearts. The manner in which the Minister’s letter written with good intention and no malice, is being dribbled in the spiritual courts speaks for the shallow spiritual waters surrounding us. This is a disgrace to Yesudas and his contribution to Hindu devotional songs and keerthanas. The singer deserved better invite than a minister’s letter to enter the temple given the fact that he’s regular at Mookambima Temple, Kollur, and Sabarimala in Kerala. Yesudas and family had also spent many days praying at the Kulke Subrahmania temple, Mangalore, a couple of years back obliging astrological advice.

This being the mindset of the singer there’s absolutely no sense in banning him from entering Guruvayoor. Temple rules say that non Hindus can gain entry by producing a certificate from the Arya Samaj Kozhikkode, attesting their migration to Hinduism. This in itself is questionable as none can scan the innermost conviction of anyone obtaining such a certificate. Yesudas is not the first and last noble mind to face the Guruvayoor snub. In fact, the issue snowballed in a diplomatic crisis of sorts following the recent visit of Sri Lankan President Mahindra Rajpaksse and his Christian turned Buddhist wife Shiranth to Guruvayoor.

We are not urging for a rewrite of temple rules but a better use of the discretion while treating such cases, let us at least not forget that Krishna after all symbolizes the need of love and sharing among a population, especially one facing chaos; very similar to the confusion ranging in e age Kerala………….

(Our comments)We from Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage would like to support each and every word written above and appreciate the facts presented here. We also would like to stress the point that. 1. Nowhere other than Kerala such a Non Hindu entry problem to the temple exists. 2. No such direction has been given in Thanthra samucchaya or any other thaantric books 3. Hundreds of temples have non Brahmin poojaries 4. Many otherKerala temples allow the entry of non Hindus . 4. When we Hindus weep and protest that conversion takes place through out India , and we ourselves are not ready to receive those who are coming back after correcting their mistakes, then who else will help them to come back. This is not only the problems of Hindus, but also the Government as long as the temples are governed by Government.

- Dr N Gopalakrishnan