Temple rites: breaking barriers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five women are among 35 persons in the first-ever open initiation of people from all castes into the world of temple rites on Wednesday.<br /><br />Among them only six are Brahmins and the remainder belong to different castes including backward classes and castes. Traditionally non-Brahmins are not trained for temple rites, and, certainly no women.<br /><br />In the ceremony in the vicinity of the famous Thiru Ananta temple, held in the backdrop of anonymous threat calls, Tantra chief Puthumana Maheswaran Namboodiri read out the declaration accepted by all: "Henceforth anyone who practices Hindu ways and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">shastras </span>irrespective of his or her caste and creed can learn and become a <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">tantric </span>in temple rites." <br /><br />Silence reigned after the declaration. Later, leaders who trained the 35 persons spoke on a need to move with the times and be honest with God and society.</div> </div>