The Supreme Court has observed that visiting temples or performing specific religious rituals is not essential to identify oneself as a Hindu. The court said that even lighting a lamp at home can be seen as an expression of faith and religious belief.
A nine-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant made the observation while hearing the Sabarimala temple case. During the 15th day of arguments, senior advocate Dr. G. Mohan Gopal, appearing for an intervener, argued that demands for social justice are increasingly arising from within religious communities themselves.
He contended that the 1966 definition of Hinduism treated the Vedas as supreme in matters of religion and philosophy, but questioned whether all Hindus today accept the Vedas as the ultimate authority. Responding to the argument, Justice Nagarathna remarked that this is precisely why Hinduism is often described as a “way of life.”
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