Many temples in the country still display an orthodoxy well post its sell-by date as shown by the tantris in Guruvayur.Other, as old ,have changed with the times without diluting their religiosity.
Every small or large temples has its own tradition and attituinal prism from which it views the world.
Compendium of temples from South, north ,east and west of India
Varanasi:-The city of lights offers strange contrasts:On the one
hand,,there is the tradition of someone like late ustad Bismillah Khan doing riyaaz at Balaji temple and performing at Sankat Mochan . On the other there was this instance of pop singer Parwati khan who had to sneak into Kashi Vishwanath temple incognito after Shiv sina raised a shindig when her visit was publicly announced.
A marble plaque in front of Kashi Vishwanath declares :” Those who do not have faith Arya dharma are strictly prohibited from enttering the temple precincts.”In reality there is no restrictions on devotees of any caste or creed.
Bhubnseswar:-The recent incident in Keredagada, Kendrapara, Where Dalits broke a 300-year ban on thier entry into a local temple (they could get in only under police protection) ,highlights a peculiar problem: While temples in hinterland observe caste- bar rituals, those in puri and Bhubneshwar or the Jagannath temple in puri
inside view of lord jagannath temple
outside view of lord Jagannath temple in puri
Guwahati:-Kamakhya doesnot place any restriction on non-hindus entering the temple. But this is because non-Hindu cannot be identified.Generally devotees other than hindu don’t come to Kamakhya for worshiping
Kamakhya temple at guwahati
Dwarka:-Gujarat’s dwarka dham, one of the four pilgrimages central to Hinduism is open for all.There is no discrimination on the basis of one’s religion: Be they Hindu,Muslim,Cristian or Dalits. “A person who come with faith in his heart and hence there shouldn’t be any restriction,”Says Swami sadanand Brahmachari of Dwarka Mutt, mutt-adhish and the second- in- command to the Shankaracharya.
“The only place out-of-bounds is the Sanctum Sanctorum, where just the shankaracharya and the priests are allowed.Even the three shankaracharya of the mutts do not hae access to the sanctum sanctorum,”says Sadanand Brahmachari. “Brahmin,Dalits,Cristian or Muslim,all are Equally treated,says Brahmachari. No one is stopped from performing puja. “Anyone can make his offering t the charan puduka like the hindu”he says.
