Cherthala, KERALA (27 Jan 2007): Fifty-three-year-old Jameela and 17-
year-old Ansila are both Muslims but their lives revolve around a
Hindu temple at Cherthala in Kerala's Alappuzha district and the
Raja Rajeswari temple has become the only support for the two women.

Jameela is deaf and dumb and earns a living by working at the
temple. She cleans the premises and washes the utensils used for the
puja. While Ansila says that she would never have completed her
schooling after her father's death, if the temple authorities hadn't
stepped in to help.

"My father passed away when I was in the 11th standard. I couldn't
have completed 12th standard without help from the temple
authorities. Apart from paying my school fees, they also gave me a
lot of moral support," says Ansila.

So, what inspires an orthodox Hindu temple, which is run by a trust
based on the teachings of social reformer Sri Narayana Guru, to go
this length to salvage the lives of two Muslim women?

"This temple always had good relations with other religious
communities. We strongly believe in the teachings of Sri Narayana
Guru, who said that we must help the needy, no matter which
community they belong to," says President of Raja Rajeswari Temple,
K Purushan.

For all the preachers of religious harmony, this temple in southern
Kerala is sending a strong signal: practice what you preach. And
undoubtedly there cant be a better way than to use the teachings of
a 20th century Hindu social reformer to salvage the lives to two
needy women.

SOURCE: CNN-IBN. By Naveen Nair. FAITH BEYOND RELIGION: This temple
in Kerala is sending a strong signal - practice what you preach.
URL (WITH VIDEO): http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/32206/hindu-temple-
supports-muslim-women.html
TINY URL: http://tinyurl.com/2rt2g4