The subsequent discussion will not make sense to scientific thought and logic. If you are into those, the first question would be "Why pray to a bronze statue" and the discussion should there. If you have come admitting that "praying to a statue is fine", then read on..
In Hindu belief, the concept of 'God' and 'Deity' are different. Let me take the parallel of Lord Krishna here.
Lord Vishnu is part of the trinity of gods. Lord Brahma is the creator. Lord Vishnu is the sustainer and Lord Shiva is the destroyer. There are a number of temples where we worship Lord Vishnu's deities. Examples include the Padmanabha Temple at Thiruvananthapuram and Poornathryeesa Temple at Thripunithura. Both are Royal temples, but the deities, rites and customs are widely different.
Then.. Lord Krishna is considered to be the complete incarnation of Lord Vishnu. There are a number of Krishna Temples, where the deity is not considered to be Vishnu. Lord Vishnu have two wives. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and Bhumi, the goddess of earth. But Lord Krishna is predominantly worshiped alone in Kerala, and with Radha in the north. Lord Krishna's principal consort was Rugmini, but she is hardly worshiped in any temple.
Lord Krishna himself is worshiped in various forms. At Guruvayoor, the form changes by the time of day. At Ambalappuzha, it is the boy form. There are many places the infant form is worshiped. Some places he is worshiped as a warrior armed with the weapons and conch. Some places he just holds his flute and a lump of butter.
Each Temple have certain 'personality' to the deity. This personality is initiated at the time of the installation of the deity, and are subject to modifications. Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala is installed as a celibate ascetic, who do not want to see women of age 10 to 50 at his abode.
Here comes a few questions.
What about Malikappurathu Amma? Isn't she a woman?
Malikappurath Amma is not a mortal woman. She is a deity herself, derived from the purified form of the demon Mahishi. Like any deity, she is timeless and ageless. Even if you apply human standard, she should be, like 500 years old, so definitely in the right age bracket anyway.
Is lord Ayyappa scared/hate of women?
No. The deity simply don't want them to come to his place. One of the reasons could be in consideration to the men who are supposed to go penance.
Then, haven't the rituals and conventions changed in the past? If the deity's nature is set at the time of installation, can't that be modified? There are a number of legends of the deity's nature being modified.
Yes, it is quite conceivable that the nature of the presiding deity at Sabarimala could be changed into a worldly form from an ascetic form. It would be like a major surgery for a human. The question is, is that really necessary? The vast majority of women devotees seem to think that the current conventions can continue.
In Hindu belief, the concept of 'God' and 'Deity' are different. Let me take the parallel of Lord Krishna here.
Lord Vishnu is part of the trinity of gods. Lord Brahma is the creator. Lord Vishnu is the sustainer and Lord Shiva is the destroyer. There are a number of temples where we worship Lord Vishnu's deities. Examples include the Padmanabha Temple at Thiruvananthapuram and Poornathryeesa Temple at Thripunithura. Both are Royal temples, but the deities, rites and customs are widely different.
Then.. Lord Krishna is considered to be the complete incarnation of Lord Vishnu. There are a number of Krishna Temples, where the deity is not considered to be Vishnu. Lord Vishnu have two wives. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and Bhumi, the goddess of earth. But Lord Krishna is predominantly worshiped alone in Kerala, and with Radha in the north. Lord Krishna's principal consort was Rugmini, but she is hardly worshiped in any temple.
Lord Krishna himself is worshiped in various forms. At Guruvayoor, the form changes by the time of day. At Ambalappuzha, it is the boy form. There are many places the infant form is worshiped. Some places he is worshiped as a warrior armed with the weapons and conch. Some places he just holds his flute and a lump of butter.
Each Temple have certain 'personality' to the deity. This personality is initiated at the time of the installation of the deity, and are subject to modifications. Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala is installed as a celibate ascetic, who do not want to see women of age 10 to 50 at his abode.
Here comes a few questions.
What about Malikappurathu Amma? Isn't she a woman?
Malikappurath Amma is not a mortal woman. She is a deity herself, derived from the purified form of the demon Mahishi. Like any deity, she is timeless and ageless. Even if you apply human standard, she should be, like 500 years old, so definitely in the right age bracket anyway.
Is lord Ayyappa scared/hate of women?
No. The deity simply don't want them to come to his place. One of the reasons could be in consideration to the men who are supposed to go penance.
Then, haven't the rituals and conventions changed in the past? If the deity's nature is set at the time of installation, can't that be modified? There are a number of legends of the deity's nature being modified.
Yes, it is quite conceivable that the nature of the presiding deity at Sabarimala could be changed into a worldly form from an ascetic form. It would be like a major surgery for a human. The question is, is that really necessary? The vast majority of women devotees seem to think that the current conventions can continue.
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