It is a common feature that we see with male monks, especially when confronted with confident women.

Illustration/Devdutt Pattanaik

Recently, at a temple, a monk wearing ochre-saffron, to advertise his ‘celibacy’, yelled at a girl for wearing a leather belt and entering the temple. Somehow, he had given himself the authority of purity. It struck me how this arrogant gatekeeper of culture, rather than appreciating the girl’s devotion, was busy drawing attention to himself, and spoiling the entire mood in the temple. Why was he observing and policing women’s clothing? It is a common feature that we see with male monks, especially when confronted with confident women.

I did not have the heart to tell this priest monk that traditionally in Hindu temples, monks lived in establishments outside the temple. They........

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