varnam

Visiting Bali, Aneeta Sundararaj, a storyteller, discovered that Balinese people seem to be practicing the tenets of Hinduism properly.

�??Temples are presided over by a lay priest, called a pemangku. He or she is often of the lowest caste. A pemangku is not a holy person, but rather, one who is respected as one with spiritual influence. �?� They may be thought of in some respects as temple caretakers. They keep the place clean, decorate it when needed, furnish holy water to those who seek it, and are in charge of all ceremonies that occur within the temple. One of their important jobs is to prepare and provide holy water from the temple for those who seek it for various occasions.�?�

This is amazing for two reasons which touch on issues of gender and caste bias. In other parts of the world where Hinduism is practised, women are not allowed to take part in temple duties. Worse still is the scourge of the caste system that does not allow a low caste person to even enter the temple let alone provide holy water to people who seek it. The ability of the Balinese to treat their fellow man as human, if not equal, is like none other in this world. Nowhere else could it be possible for a low caste woman to keep the temple clean or decorate it and indeed be in charge of all ceremonies that occur within the temple. Indeed the Balinese must truly be liberated people. [Bali �?? Where the great stories of Hindu Mythology and Reality Meet]

I don't know much about temples in other states, but in Kerala, all the Naga temples are run by women and in normal temples women assume various duties like making garlands etc. On Nov 12, 1936, Sree Chithira Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore issued a proclamation opening all temples in Travancore to all Hindus irrespective of caste. Later Cochin and Malabar followed.