Temple Entry For Muslims

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 3 May 2025 "In the land of Lord Krishna, several prominent temples in Mathura and Vrindavan have pushed back against growing calls for boycotting Muslims - either from entering temples or for business interactions - stressing that devotion (bhakti) knows no religion or caste." Courtesy, NAI, News snippets While it's admirable, you also come across a statement in the same news item that, " Muslims are not allowed inside Radhaballabh temple." This shows that Muslims are still selectively welcome in Hindu shrines. I've no intention to drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims. I'm just stating the fact/s because this entry issue has ailed Hinduism for centuries. Though asking a devotee's religion and caste at Kashi, Vishwanath temple and Jagannath temple in Puri is not in practice any longer, subtle ways are still prevalent to know a person's caste. For example, when your Gotra is asked in a Hindu temple, it means that your caste will automatically become obvious. Hindu apologists may say that caste and Gotras are different. Sorry, they're not. Gotra Praakatya Jaati Parinivritti (Gotra spills the beans). Many temples in South India subtly enquire about your Gotra to know your caste. That's why a few years ago, a Hindu priest from a temple in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad made headlines for carrying a Dalit (formerly known as untouchable) man on his shoulders into the temple's inner sanctum. It has been seen as a dramatic move because Dalits have historically been denied entry into temples as they are considered "impure" by many conservative Hindus. Even today, most temples in India do not allow Dalits to enter (BBC, April 20, 2018). Traditionally, they (Dalits) have been segregated from the upper castes and are not allowed to attend the same temples, schools or even drink from the same cups or wells. They do not get equal education and job opportunities, and are often victims of exploitation, abuse and violence. Hindu masses still believe that Dalits and Muslims are the same because there's no denying the fact that Dalits embraced Islam en bloc. While temple authorities might allow Muslims and Dalits to enter temples and the holy places of Hindus, the general tenor among the Hindus is against it. We've a long way to go before we can eradicate the scourge of casteism. But when the country is getting ready for the caste-based census, do you think this deep-rooted issue will ever be completely expunged from the psyche and soil of Indians and India? Lastly, it must be stated that the Madras High Court has ruled that non-Hindus should not be allowed beyond certain areas of temples, as they are not considered places of worship for non-Hindus. To cut the matter short, the issue of temple entry for Muslims and other non-Hindus remains a contentious one. While there are legal and historical precedents for allowing certain groups access to temples, the issue of religious practices and beliefs is a major factor in ongoing discussions. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URl: https://www.newageislam.com/current-affairs/temple-entry-muslims/d/135409 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism