Prohibiting shirt in temples is a social evil: Kerala’s Sree Narayana community calls for change

Sivagiri: Swami Satchidananda, president of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust, on Tuesday described the practice of requiring people to remove their upper garments (such as shirts) before entering temples as a "social evil," a tradition that must be abolished. The influential Sivagiri Mutt in Kerala explained that the practice was originally introduced to display the sacred thread (poonool).

He noted that while the practice persists in many temples, the Sree Narayana community is committed to addressing and rectifying it.

Swami Satchidananda was speaking at the Varkala Sivagiri Pilgrimage Conference.

He stressed that there is unanimous agreement on the practice being outdated and pointed out that it is not followed in Sree Narayana Guru temples. He advocated for a change in line with modern sensibilities.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, speaking after the Swami, expressed his support for the reform. While acknowledging the challenges involved, the Chief Minister endorsed the Sree Narayana community’s call for change, emphasising that any adjustments should be voluntary, not mandatory.