Description
About the book :
Women and Sabarimala is an answer to the question “why aren’t women of menstrual age allowed to enter Sabarimala?” This book presents a never-before discussed perspective on the science behind the restrictions on women in the Sabarimala temple.
Women and Sabarimala is a rare book and is written from a woman’s perspective, explaining the nature of the temple through India’s traditional knowledge systems, such as Ayurveda, Chakras, Tantra and Agama Shastra. At the same time, the author’s personal experiences simplify the understanding of these deep sciences, providing a glimpse into how temples impact the human physiology and, in particular, women’s menstrual cycles. This book will change the way Hindu temples, especially Sabarimala, are perceived and experienced.
ISBN : 978-1647336332; Pages 106 ; Publisher : Notion Press
About the Author :
Sinu Joseph is a menstrual educator, an author and one of the pioneers of the menstrual health movement in India. Her work on menstruation has been unique in its efforts of unearthing the ancient science behind native menstrual practices and bringing forth a narrative which is the Bharatiya perspective on menstruation. She is the co-founder and Managing Trustee of Mythri Speaks, and also works with The Forward Foundation.
She has studied several Hindu temples, religious restrictions owing to menstruation and their impact on women’s menstrual health. Her study on Sabarimala and the associated Sastha temples explore the way consecrated spaces can alter women’s menstrual cycles. Her book ‘Woman & Sabarimala: The science behind restrictions” is written from a woman’s perspective, explaining the nature of the temple through India’s traditional knowledge systems, such as Tantra and Agama Shastra.
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gunduhuduga (verified owner) – :
Sabarimala is a topic of great personal interest to me due to my own, my immediate & extended family experiences. The memories of my father, my uncles, my cousins taking the annual mandala yatra still remains afresh, as well as my own experiences. When I saw a woman has written about this topic from her experiences, it piqued my interest.
Sinu Joseph’s preface is quite well articulated and makes some imperative points. We don’t know what we don’t know. The best form of explanation is through personal experiences, which is the objective established by the author. Quoting from Agama book by S.K.Ramachandra Rao, the author explains the rationale leading to the establishment of temples in current era. The explanation on Vaastu Purusha mandala is quite comprehensive and good.
The author elaborates about the “shat-chakras” from Ayurveda, along with detailed explanation on each of them and their relevance in physical & spiritual pursuits of humans. One of the key points is about specific temples that can energise the various chakras. The author captures her journey across the 5 different temples, each representing a chakra. A dharmic pursuit with a scientific temper, combining the available information, reinterpreting the same at a metaphysical level & refining the same with one’s own experience.
The travels and experiences of the author is well documented in a crisp, concise manner. Having visited some of these temples & related ones, I could relate to the experiences captured in the book. Don’t miss the interesting experience of Aryankavu Dharmasastha temple. One of the key focus areas of this book is to capture the impact of “energies” of the various kshetra on human body. The author does close the loop by providing an alternate path for women through the path of Devi Upasana.
Personal Anecdote:
For those trekking the shorter route from Pamba to Sannidhanam, the experiences could be metaphorically compared with each of these temples. The challenges of the initial steep climb does play on one’s mind, only to be replaced with a relief and resolve to have darshana (ippo poonal swamiye kaananam – If we go now, we should see Swami). The bliss one achieves at the final darshana can’t be expressed, but only can be experienced. Listening to Harivarasanam by Dr. K. J. Yesudas at 10.45 pm in the night is yet another surreal experience. The inner turmoil, transformation & ultimate happiness is quite noticeable for those undertaking the yatra.
In the modern society with the quite a range of opinions, this book is quite a laudable effort. It definitely does deserve a read, where one can marvel and appreciate the wisdom our ancestors and derive very valuable lessons for the present.