At a time when a spirited debate is on in the state on the enforcement of dress code for the students of Anna University, the spiritual leader of the Madurai Adheenam Sri Arunagirinatha Paramacharya Swami has expressed his wish for a dress code for women for entering temples.

The swami said he wholeheartedly welcomed the announcement of Anna University enforcing dress code for women students in its campus.

"This is indeed a great decision and will go a long way in inculcating discipline in the minds of the students.

"All colleges in Tamil Nadu should come forward to adopt this dress code. As the great Tamil saying goes, educational institutions are equivalent to temples," he told reporters at Kuttalam near Mayiladuthurai on Saturday.

"While educational institutions are coming forward to enforce dress code, a similar code should be enforced for entering temples.

Women should wear traditional dress while coming to temple. This would ensure 'Bhakthi' in the minds of the devotees," he said.

"Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has great faith in gods. So, on behalf of the Madurai Adheenam, I appeal to the chief minister to consider the idea of enforcing dress code for entering into temples," he said.