Following a Police complaint lodged by a Hindu Makkal Katchi functionary, a man was arrested in Chennai for circulating an offensive video regarding Lord Ayyappa which allegedly showed the Hindu Deity in a bad light with a menstruating woman’s image forming part of the clip.
The 21-year old arrested man, Selvan, a resident of Tiruninravur, is reported to be the creator of the video. “After questioning, we arrested him. He was produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody,” a local police official said.
Lord Ayyappa is a celibate god and the entry of women of menstruating age were barred from entering the temple. However, the Sabarimala Temple and its resident Deity, Lord Ayyappa, have been mire in a serious controversy following a Supreme Court majority judgment which permitted women to enter the Temple breaking an ancient tradition. Protests have broken out across the country after devotees were hurt by the judgment which they perceive to be against their religious and are demanding that a review petition be filed against the verdict. Many women and volunteers have held demonstrations saying they are ready to wait to visit the temple.