- By Shubham Bajpai
- Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A nine-judge Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, is currently hearing the Sabrimala entry case on seven questions regarding religious freedom. During a hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, defending the traditional restrictions on women, argued that there are several temples in the country, where men are now allowed to enter as a tradition.
Mehta cited the examples of six temples in India, which have a longstanding religious tradition of not allowing men to enter the inner sanctum.
Mehta presented such examples while arguing against the 2018 verdict, which allowed the entry of women aged between 10 and 50 years against the custom. Mehta said the order was based on the assumption that men are superior.
He suggested that it does not reflect the broader practices within the Hindu traditions.
"It is submitted that considering its unique and distinct features in Hinduism, its rituals, beliefs, mode of worship, and other religious rights under Article 25 and 26 can never be tested directly, without any balancing and optimisation, on the touchstone of Article 14," he said.
Which temples in India does not allow men to enter?
Chakkulathukavu Temple, Kerala: Chakkulathukavu Temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi and observes an annual ritual called 'Naari Puja' (Women worship). During the fest, a male priest washes the feet of women devotees, who fast for 10 days. The male devotees are not allowed into the temple area.
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Kerala: Another temple dedicated to Bhagavathi, it is situated in Thiruvananthapuram and is famous for the Attukal Pongala festival. During the festival, lakhs of women together make a special offering to the main deity.
Men are not allowed to enter the temple during the festival to respect the tradition of women's involvement in this sacred ritual. The gathering has been registered in the Guinness World Records as the largest by women.
Brahma Temple, Pushkar: Built in the 14th century, Pushkar has the only temple in the world which is dedicated to Brahma. Traditionally, married men are not allowed to enter the temple's inner sanctum and are restricted to the main gate only. It is believed that married men who worship him closely would face disturbances in their marital life.
Mata Temple, Muzaffarpur: Situated in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, the temple does not allow men t enter for a particular period. The temple rules are so strict that the male priest is also not allowed to enter the premises. The temple remains exclusively open for women during this period.
Kottankulangara Sree Devi Temple, Kerala: The temple has a unique tradition, named Chamayavilakku. Although the temple does not have an entry prohibition custom, men must dress in women's attire and seek the blessings of the goddess. In another custom, children below 10 years of age dress up like girls.
Kamakhya Temple, Assam: A widely-popular Shaktipeeth, Kamrup Kamakhya bars men's entry during Ambubachi, when the goddess is said to be undergoing her annual menstruation. During this period, female priests serve the temple.
Apart from the above six temples, whose example has been cited by the Solicitor General, there are other temples too where gender based customs, putting restrictions on men, are practised.
Santoshi Mata Temple, Rajasthan: Situated in Jodhpur, the Santoshi Mata Mandir doesn't allow men entry on Fridays as it is the day dedicated to the deity, and legends suggest the temple's power increases on this day of the week.
The power draws women from distant places to pray in the temple. During this time, men aren't allowed in the inner sanctum.
Kumari Amman Temple, Tamil Nadu: The Kanyakumari Temple is dedicated to goddess Kanyakumari, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati.
The temple has barred the entry of men, especially married ones, into the inner sanctum, where the deity resides. Only women are allowed to worship the goddess.
Among men, only Sanyasis are allowed, but that too till the door of the temple. Married men can pray from a distance as per the temple's traditions and rules.