SHOULD COURT DECIDE WHAT IS PURE AND IMPURE?

All religions revolve around the concept of purity. Each religion has its own way to define what is pure and what is impure. Based on that definition of purity each religion designs its religious rituals, practices and customs. These practices which may seem irrational or superstitious to non-believer may be pious and revered for their followers. Few of them are enumerated below,

• Kaal Bhairav temple in Ujjain – Here liquor is offered to the lord Kaal Bhairavji and is poured on idol as ceremonial bathing[1].
• Shiva Temple – In Shiva Temples, one finds a vessel hung over the Lingam, that continuously drips water, milk or other offerings onto the Lingam in deference to Shiva’s desire for Abhisheka[2].
• Goddess Vardayani in Rupaal, North Gujarat – This village of 7,000 has a unique way of thanking its resident Goddess Vardayani, by pouring ghee over five earthen lamps that dot a wooden structure called the palli[3].

These are the few examples of diverse rituals and practices followed by various religions in India. Above examples show at one place god is bathed with liquor, at other with milk and yet another idol is offered ghee. It can be assumed that those offer liquor to lord believe it to be pure substance rather not a pollutant to both idol and temple. Same can be assumed for temples using milk and ghee to worship god. But most of the Hindu temples do consider liquor as impure and bar it. Therefore, what is pure in one religion may be impure to another and what is pure in other religion may be impure to some others. This contradiction in belief of purity symbolizes diversity of India.

The above referred belief of purity and its derivatives, as to what to offer, how to worship, what is pure, what is impure, what purifies and what pollutes are matters of religion. This ratio gains support from the case of Sri Venkataramana Devaru v. The State of Mysore where Supreme Court noted that,

“The second object is to preserve the image from pollution, defilement or desecration. It is part of the religious belief of a Hindu worshipper that when the image is polluted or defiled Divine Spirit in the image diminishes or even vanishes.

That is a situation which every devotee or worshipper looks upon with horror. Pollution or defilement may take place in variety of ways. According to the Agamas, an image becomes defiled if there is any departure or violation of any of the rules relating to worship. In fact, purificatory ceremonies have to be performed for restoring the sanctity of the shrine [1958 S.C.R. 895 (910)]”

Also in the case of His Holiness Srimad Perarulala Ethiraja Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami etc. vs. The State of Tamil Nadu [AIR 1972 SC 1586], the Court has held that –

“Worshippers lay great store by the rituals and whatever other people, not of the faith may think about these rituals and ceremonies, they are a part of the Hindu Religious faith and cannot be dismissed as either irrational or superstitious.”

Therefore, from above judgments it can be safely concluded that, the belief of purity and rituals are matter of religion which cannot be dismissed as either irrational or superstitious by courts.

However it should be noted that the religions amongst themselves may not accept each other’s definition of purity and neither can it be imposed over each other. They may positively discuss debate and decide on common platform, amongst themselves what actually is pure, what exactly purifies or what is true way to worship. Religions themselves have sole authority to decide their beliefs and rituals. In India courts are statutory authority and therefore,

SHOULD COURT INTERFERE INTO RELIGION AND DEFINE WHAT IS PURE AND WHAT IS IMPURE AND DENT DIVERSITY-THE STORE HOUSE OF POWER FOR INDIA? 

– H. H. Jainacharya Yugbhushan Suriji [Pandit Maharaja]

[1] httpss://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/When-gods-accept-whisky/articleshow/414121.cms

[2] httpss://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/lord-shiva-lingam-abhishekam-and-its-benefits/panchamrutham-abhishekam

[3] httpss://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/offtrack/story/19941115-village-where-offerings-of-ghee-flow-down-streets-on-navaratri-809944-1994-11-15[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row]