LUCKNOW, Nov 22: It’s a man’s world, but not in an old temple in Uttar Pradesh where only women can worship - and men may do so at their own risk. The Brahm temple in Sakaldiha town of Chanduali district, some 300 km from Lucknow, was built nearly 120 years ago in the memory of a seer named Shreepath, who is said to have wished victory to daughters and defeat to sons.
“Since time immemorial, only women and girls come here and offer turmeric to the deity. Most of the time, women come in groups to perform yagna (a ritual to invoke the gods) and seek blessings from the seer who was believed to possess spiritual powers,” Jamuni Kanta, who has been living in Sakaldiha for the last 65 years, told IANS on telephone.
According to local people, while women from Sakaldiha and neighbouring towns throng the temple every day, men do not come due to the belief that visiting the temple will bring them bad luck. The story relates to a dispute between Shreepath and king Chatra Shah and his sons, who ruled Sakaldiha town long ago. “It is believed that Shreepath’s cattle strayed into the fields of the king, so he and his son held the seer captive for several days as punishment,” said Kisna Kanti, a former head of Itwa village in Sakaldiha.
To show his resentment, Shreepath undertook a fast. Gradually he turned sick and frail. While the king’s sons still did not pay heed, his two daughters were moved to tears by his condition. Going against their father’s decision that no one should meet Shreepath, the two went to meet him in the prison with a glass of water and a few tulsi leaves. “The two urged the seer to forgive their father and brothers and have the tulsi leaves with the water. The seer agreed. Soon after eating the leaves and consuming water, the seer breathed his last, saying putriyon ki jai ho, putron ka chhay ho (hail the daughters, defeat to the sons),” narrated Kanti. (IANS)
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