Assam governor helps break taboo against women
April 5th, 2010 - 9:05 pm ICT by IANSBy Syed Zarir Hussain
Barpeta (Assam), April 5 (IANS) Bhabani Pathak and Kamala Bharali are excited and yet haunted with a sense of guilt. They were among the few women who broke a more than 500-year-old tradition by entering the sanctum sanctorum of a revered Xatra or Hindu monastery in Assam.
“I am overwhelmed as I was among the very few who stepped into the kirtan ghar (sanctum sanctorum) of the Xatra, but at the same time I don’t know why I am filled with a sense of guilt,” Bhabani told IANS.
The Xatras or monasteries were formed by 16th century saint philosopher Srimanta Sankardeva who propagated Vaishnavism, a sect of Hinduism in Assam.
The move came after Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik visited Barpeta in western Assam Sunday night to attend a function of the Xatra Mahasabha, the apex body of an estimated 600 Xatras.
On his way back, the governor decided to visit the Patboukhi Xatra, a monastery founded by the saint himself.
“I saw a group of women waiting outside the Xatra and when I enquired with some locals, I was told women don’t enter the sanctum sanctorum. I was a little stunned,” the governor said.
Patnaik then tried reasoning with the male members and the Xatra management - that Sankardeva preached equality and never discriminated between men and women.
The Xatra management conceded to the governor’s reasoning and he took some of the waiting women inside the monastery.
“We are part of history no doubt, but then still don’t feel like breaking the tradition. Somehow, don’t know why this guilt feeling is there,” Kamala said.
But a day after the historic decision, there was a mixed reaction in the Xatra - people are yet to come to terms with reality.
“There are no written instructions or decisions of not allowing women to enter the sanctum sanctorum, but it was just a tradition practised for centuries. We are not against the decision, but have to see the reaction of the locals,” Dhiren Bayan, president of the Patboukhi Xatra, said.
“I feel happy that the people accepted my reasoning,” the governor said.
- UGC clears Assam's Sankardeva study centre - May 01, 2012
- After 2,000 years, temple allows women into sanctum sanctorum - Apr 15, 2011
- 'Temple rules must not be changed': Kerala devotees - Apr 17, 2011
- Apex court notice on entry to Kalighat temple - May 15, 2012
- Apex court permits access to Kalighat temple's sanctum sanctorum - May 21, 2012
- Apex court issues notices on Kalighat temple entry (Lead) - May 15, 2012
- India's oldest student at 100... still going strong - Oct 18, 2010
- Apex court permits access to Kalighat temple's sanctum sanctorum (Lead) - May 21, 2012
- Guruvayur temple saw 198 weddings in a single day (Feature With Image) - Sep 21, 2010
- Kerala court quashes charge sheet in Sabarimala case - Jul 13, 2012
- 10 women defy curbs, enter Kolhapur temple - Apr 13, 2011
- Sankardeva birth anniversary celebrated in Assam - Sep 14, 2009
- Kannada actor not to be arrested in Sabarimala case - Nov 15, 2010
- Battling maternal deaths, Assam upgrades health workers' skills - Apr 22, 2012
- Shot in arm for roots theatre of northeast (With Images) - Apr 06, 2011
Tags: 16th century, apex, apex body, assam, equality, group of women, hindu monastery, hinduism, kamala, kirtan, locals, male members, monasteries, no doubt, pathak, philosopher, sanctum sanctorum, sect, sense of guilt, taboo