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Not a single woman was able to enter the temple because of the protesters
The Sabarimala temple in the south Indian state of Kerala opens its doors to women of the first time on Wednesday. However violent protesters ensured women's devotees were turned away.
Several people with an old woman were injured as crowds threw stones at vehicles and attacked police officers near the temple.
The protesters have also included many women – they have participated in, blocked roads and checked vehicles towards the temple of a menstruating age – roughly between 10 and 50 years – were trying to enter the temple.
The temple attracts millions of devotees from across the country.
Why are protesters so angry?
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Part of the violent opposition to the Supreme Court of Justice, Lord Ayappa, himself.
Hinduism looks menstruating women as unclean and bars them from participating in religious rituals.
But while most Hindu temples allow women to enter as long as they are not menstruating, the Sabarimala temple is unusual in that it was one of the few that did not allow women in the world to enter at all.
Hindu devotees say that Sabarimala is not about menstruation alone – it is also in keeping with the desire of the world to be deceived.
Every year, millions of male devotees trek up to steep hill, often barefoot, to visit the shrine. They also undertake a rigorous 41-day fast, abstaining from smoking, alcohol, meat, and contact with menstruating women before they begin the journey.
What is the legend of Lord Ayappa?
Every god in the vast Hindu pantheon has his own personality, complete with a unique legend, and Lord Ayappa is no different.
According to the temple's mythology, Lord Ayyappa is an avowed bachelor who has taken an oath of celibacy.
There are several stories about why this is the case.
According to one legend, Ayappa was born out of a union between two male gods that gave him the ability to defeat a she-demon that had been unstoppable until then.
On defeating her, it was revealed that she was really a young woman who had been trained to live the life of a demon.
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She fell in love with him, but he refused, saying he was destined to go into the forest and answer the prayers of his devotees.
She persisted, so he said he would marry her the new day.
That never happened.
The legend says that she waits for a second temple, which is Sabarimala shrine.
Women do not visit either temple – the belief is that to do so would insult both the deity and the sacrifice of the woman who loved him.
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According to another legend, Lord Ayappa was a prince who saved his kingdom from an Arab invader named Vavar.
Following the battle, Vavar became a follower of the prince – there is also a shrine dedicated to him near Sabarimala. He is said to protect the pilgrims who come to Sabarimala to seek blessings.
In this version of the story, Lord Ayappa has always had a say in the subject of the world, which is why they are not permitted inside their temple.
There could also be other legends associated with the deity and why are not allowed inside.
What are protesters saying?
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Kaviyoor Santhosh
Sabarimala is one of the most prominent Hindu temples in the country
"There is no jubilation among Hindu women on the contrary, they are distressed," author Vineetha Menon wrote in the Organizer – a publication run by the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which has been at the forefront of protests.
Ms Menon argues that women do not enter the temple "owing to the Lord's bhava [wish]".
Some male devotees said that they will not return to the temple if the court ruling is enforced.
"We have been coming to the temple for the last 30 years," Murugan, devotee, told BBC Hindi's Imran Qureshi.
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The issue also divided the five-judge bench that gave the verdict.
Indu Malhotra, the only woman judge on the bench, disagreed with the majority verdict.
"Issues of deep religious feelings should not be ordinarily interfered with by the court …"
Women have been demanding entry into the temple for decades. But in 2016, a controversial statement by the temple has given fresh impetus to the protest.
Prayar Gopalakrishnan said that they would have been "pure" – meaning that they were not menstruating.
Petitioners who appealed to the Supreme Court to lift the cit, citing the temple's rituals. They added that it was prejudiced against women and their right to worship.
Correspondents say that clashes between protesters and police may escalate in the coming days.
