Temple codes.

I read a piece of news on the front page of a daily that a Dalit boy was slapped by a Brahmin priest for helping himself to 'vibhuthi' from the untended aarti plate,and that the priest has been booked under IPC and may be booked under stringent laws relating to untouchability.

I am a Brahmin an Iyengar, supposed to have descended from one of the 74 disciples of the foremost preceptor Sri Ramanuja, who systematised all the temple rituals. My great grand father was a Mahamahopadya in Visishta dwaitam. Yet I dare not venture into the sanctum sanctorium .My lineage has no doubt impressed some priests who were patient enough to lend their ears , but that wasn't persuasive enough to to make them open the gate leading to the sanctum sanctorium , to me or to the male members of my family, even in those temples where I have given generous donations.

My colour[ light] or my attire --sungudi saree with diamond ear pins the sign posts ,alerting any one even a mile off, to my caste status or my age 50 plus carries no recommendation to my entry into the sanctum sanctorium of even the smallest temple of the remotest areas in here.

I have been shooed away rudely , like a stray cat by some priests , half my age when on such occasions I unwarily and emotionally entered the sanctum . Their brusque attitude was unsavoury and has pained me also.

This is the mind set in here. The priests are the guardians and keepers of the purity and sanctity of inner sanctum , idols and all the puja utensils and materials and most of them are fiercely possessive and protective about this.This is how it is!

Ps. i am neither condoning the uncharitable and mindless act of violence nor overtly censuring the lack of knowledge and sensitivity to temple codes but relating my own experiences.