Supreme Court: Hinduism is a Way of Life, Temple Visits Not Compulsory

The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday declared that Hinduism is a "way of life," emphasizing that individuals need not compulsorily visit temples or perform rituals to remain Hindu.

This observation was made by a nine-judge Constitution bench led by Surya Kant while examining petitions regarding women's entry into religious sites, such as the Sree Ayyappa Temple, and broader religious freedom issues across various faiths.

The bench comprised Justices B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan, and Joymalya Bagchi.

During proceedings, senior advocate G Mohan Gopal questioned prior judicial interpretations defining Hindus as those accepting the Vedas as the highest spiritual authority, noting that not all modern Hindus necessarily meet that strict criterion.

Justice B V Nagarathna responded, affirming Hinduism as a way of life, where temple visits and rituals are not mandatory. She further stated faith is personal, without requiring specific ritual adherence.

Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked that even simple acts, like lighting a lamp at home, are sufficient to demonstrate religious identity.

The bench is currently adjudicating multiple religious practice and equality rights matters, including Sabarimala women's entry and Dawoodi Bohra petitions.

The court had previously warned that challenging every religious practice might cause endless litigation and internal disputes. In September 2018, a five-judge bench struck down the Sabarimala ban on women aged 10-50 as unconstitutional.

The hearing before the nine-judge bench is continuing.