Indian Culture  Discussion Forum

hi, I was in your country a while back and went o many of your spiritual places in the South. I have seen this temple in orissa you spoke about. Surprisingly, there was no mention of this yantra business. This article made me wonder about the complex symmetries that mystified me in the temple. Would like to know if people from other cultures (like me) can incorporate this sacred part of indian culture in our lives. chao Ashwin Patnaik replied. Yes, Hinduism is secular, but what happens often is that people misuse this freedom of thought and speech. In older times, Jagannath Temple was vandalized often by foreign invaders. As a reaction to that, the temple does not allow non-Hindus. greg replied. Hi Ashwin, I belive have read something to the effect that non-hindus cannot enter Jagannath temple.

But this surprises me because. as far as my knowledge goes, Hinduism is surpirisingly secular in such matters.
A friend whose traveled in India mentions that he was always warmly welcomed in temples or shrines that he visited. So why is it so different in the case of Jagannath temple? Ashwin Patnaik replied. Donna, no offence, but I heard Jagannath temple doesn' t allow non-hindus. Makes me wonder how you entered unless you look Indian.