Mainstream WeeklyIt is unclear why the chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, has come under vicious criticism for merely endorsing a suggestion that men should not be forced to remove their upper garments while entering Hindu temples.
In any case, there is no universally acceptable rule regarding upper garments in respect of males praying at temples. Indeed, most temples in India do not insist that male devotees in temples must be bare chested.
This practice is now largely followed by some of the major temples in southern India, dominantly in Kerala.
And it is in Kerala that the latest drama unfolded.
The other day, Swami Sathchidananda, who heads the Sivagiri Mutt, founded by Sree Narayana Guru, called for ending the practice of men removing shirts in temples. He called this