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Some Hindu temples require men to remove their shirts before they enter. I don't remember the names of any temples off the top of my head, but I do believe that a few temples in and around Thanjavur had this policy, and I remember hearing that this is relatively common across Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
What is the basis (scriptural or otherwise) for this requirement?
In ancient society the social status of a man is depicted by his cloths covering the upper body. Those who belonged to lower status never covered thier upper bodies. So removal of such indicates the nessesity to discard one´s social status (Egoistic ideas)before entering a shrine to see the God.
The heart (Chakra) centre is the main electro magnetic resonator which connects the chakra system together to work as one unit (Ego). Any cloths especilly metal body armour worn in the ancient times and other protecive covers blocked the chakra energies from getting exposed or connected to the energy fields of the temples.
There are two views I've come across so far. They are contradictory, yet I find both of them reasonable given proper explanations.
Reason 1:
Quote from an answer on Quora
these temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic and electric wave distributions of north/south pole thrust. The main idol is placed in the core center of the temple, known as “Garbhagriha” or Moolasthanam. In fact, the temple structure is built after the idol has been placed. This Moolasthanam is where earth’s magnetic waves are found to be maximum. We know that there are some copper plates, inscribed with Vedic scripts, buried beneath the Main Idol. What are they really? No, they are not God’s / priests’ flash cards when they forget the shlokas. The copper plate absorbs earth’s magnetic waves and radiates it to the surroundings. Thus a person regularly visiting a temple and walking clockwise around the Main Idol receives the beamed magnetic waves and his body absorbs it. This is a very slow process and a regular visit will let him absorb more of this positive energy. Scientifically, it is the positive energy that we all require to have a healthy life.
Reason 2:
Quote from a myth debunking website Nirmukta
This also explains why men are not allowed to wear shirts at a few temples and women are requested to wear more ornaments during temple visits.
Why? Should only the men benefit and not the women? Once again goes to show how all religions are misogynistic to the core. In all probability the men are basically forced to be bare-chested so that they could identify who are all wearing the sacred thread and who are not. Nothing but organized, divinely codified and sanctioned discrimination.
I'll leave it up to you to decide what you choose to believe!
I can think of two reasons.
You remove your shirt because your shirt has been stitched and one shouldn't wear stitched clothes in a temple. In olden times, the women folks too did not wear stitched clothes and covered their upper body with cotton clothes tied around their upper body (mulla chakku).It has nothing to do with caste. All that came in later.
Why traditional dress and men not allowed to wear shirts in temple? these temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic and electric wave distributions of north/south pole thrust. The main idol is placed in the core center of the temple, known as “Garbhagriha” or Moolasthanam. In fact, the temple structure is built after the idol has been placed. This Moolasthanam is where earth’s magnetic waves are found to be maximum. We know that there are some copper plates, inscribed with Vedic scripts, buried beneath the Main Idol. What are they really? No, they are not God’s / priests’ flash cards when they forget the shlokas. The copper plate absorbs earth’s magnetic waves and radiates it to the surroundings. Thus a person regularly visiting a temple and walking clockwise around the Main Idol receives the beamed magnetic waves and his body absorbs it. This is a very slow process and a regular visit will let him absorb more of this positive energy. Scientifically, it is the positive energy that we all require to have a healthy life.
Why only men and not ladies? Energy flows from altar of diety to your chakra system. For men, Aanahat chakra near to heart is the most significant, so they are suppose to receive the energy my chest. while for woman its Adya chakra at the forehead and face to get tejus.
There should be an universal dress code to pan Indian temples. Some allow any dresses, some allow kurtha pyjamas, some say bare chested. Its really annoying for both the visitors and the temple officers to explain each other about dress code. Also, everyone is not comfortable to walk bare chested in public, they have their reasons of dressing. A clean and white Kurtha pyjamas should also be allowed along with bare chested macho men in the temples of India. Baring shouldn't be a Barring from seeing the believe God.
I had asked this question to one priest in Suchindram temple. His answer was, energy flows from altar of diety to your chakra system. For men, Aanahat chakra near to heart is the most significant while for woman its Adya chakra at the forehead.
Besides, this custom might have to do with preserving tradition and culture.
