'No need for Tantri's permission, govt against practice of removing shirts in temples', says Min Vasavan

KOTTAYAM: Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan told Kerala Kaumudi that the government would favour male devotees entering temple shrines wearing shirts. The minister then gave it to the Devaswoms to make the final call on the matter.

V N VASAVAN:

“I second Swami Satchidananda’s opinion that one does not need to seek permission from Tantris to wear a shirt inside the temple shrine. Tantris can opine on the rituals to be performed. The Devaswom Boards have the authority to decide whether removing the shirt is needed inside the temple shrine.

What to wear is a fundamental right of the individual. Removing shirts and sweaty bodies touching others in crammed-up spaces can lead to skin ailments. Many devotees have directly communicated about the difficulty. In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, you can enter temples wearing a shirt.

Devotees from other states even demanded other temples in Kerala to emulate Sabarimala culture, where devotees are not forced to remove their shirts while at the shrine. Change is inevitable”