Question

On September 28, 2018 the Supreme Court opened the Sabarimala temple to women of all ages. The decision turned [1] into war zone. Organisations opposed to the judgment started blocking women of menstrual age from entering temple. The then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra had stated that the selective ban on women was not an "essential part" of Hinduism, and instead a form of "religious patriarchy". Massive protests were witnessed at Nilakkal and Pamba base camps on 17 October 2018, when the temple was opened for the first time after the Supreme Court verdict. Protesters reportedly assaulted women activists, journalists, and other women who were trying to enter the temple. People stole camera equipment of women journalists and even damaged a vehicle. The police were also attacked in the protest. The debate about the constitutional validity of practices entailing into restriction of entry of women generally in the place of worship is not limited to this case, but also arises in respect of entry of Muslim women in a dargah/ mosque as also in relation to Parsi women married to a non-Parsi into the holy fireplace of a/an [2]" observed the bench in a 3:2 majority decision.

The Sabarimala temple is dedicated to whom among the following deities?

Options

• Shiva

• Ayyappan

• Padmanabhaswamy 

• Venkateswara Swami

Answer 1

Ayyappan

Explanation:

The Sabarimala temple is dedicated to the Hindu celibate deity Ayyappan also known as Dharma Sastha, who according to belief is the son of Shiva and Mohini, the feminine incarnation of Vishnu.