{"id":620,"date":"2016-02-02T12:50:25","date_gmt":"2016-02-02T12:50:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/globalpress.hinduismnow.org?p=617&preview_id=617"},"modified":"2016-02-02T12:50:25","modified_gmt":"2016-02-02T12:50:25","slug":"media-and-dubious-activists-lead-yet-another-round-of-hindu-bashing-over-shani-shingnapur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/?p=620","title":{"rendered":"Media And Dubious Activists Lead Yet Another Round Of Hindu Bashing Over Shani Shingnapur"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is the \u2018controversy\u2019 at Shani Shingnapur temple ?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This \u2018controversy\u2019 is related to the Shani mandir in Shani Shingnapur village, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. This Hindu temple is dedicated to Shani (the devata<\/em> or diety associated with the planet Saturn) who is said to be Swayambhu<\/em> that is self emerged from earth in form of a black stone at this place. The temple authorities do not allow either men or women to climb the 9 steps to the Shani(idol). Everyone (man or woman) is allowed to enter the temple.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Devotees_Shani_Mandir\"<\/p>\n

Devotees (including women) at Shani Shingnapur mandir<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The temple is believed to be a jagrut devasthan<\/em> (i.e an \u2018alive temple\u2019), meaning that a deity still resides in the temple idol and that Shani devta punishes anyone attempting theft. As a consequence, houses in Shani Shingnapur village do not have doors or locks and hardly any thefts are reported from there.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On 28 November last year, a woman climbed the security barricade to the \u2018chauthara<\/em>\u2018 (platform) where the idol is installed and offered prayers. The temple authorities had then fired the security guards and undertaken some rituals, which had triggered a mini-controversy in media back then as well. On December 19, four more women, including Trupti Desai of Bhumata Ranragini Brigade, again tried to climb the platform, angering local villagers. After this, Bhumata Ranragini Brigade promised to \u2018storm\u2019 the temple with 400 women on 26 January, a threat which they have just acted out, creating the present \u2018controversy\u2019.<\/p>\n

Is the \u2018protest\u2019 valid?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No. As reported by many common people (both men and women) on social media, no one is barred from entering the temple and the restrictions regarding access to the garbha griha<\/em> (sanctum sanctorum), i.e the platform where the idol is placed, apply to both genders.<\/p>\n

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@yoginisd<\/a> @mamtan14<\/a> Precisely. And the priests who do, wear a wet cloth when entering the grabha graha. Not conducive to modesty of women.<\/p>\n

— Lakshmi ?? (@ChowkidarLaxmi) January 27, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n