Pandalam Palace Managing Committee (PPMC) chairman P. Rama Varma Raja has welcomed the findings of the just-concluded astrological consultation Ashtamangala Devaprasnom at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam.
Talking to The Hindu on Tuesday, Mr. Raja said most of the devaprasnom findings were the ones which the PPMC had been airing over the past several years.
Mr. Raja said he too had been advocating for constructing the Bhasmakkulam at its old site, the demolition of the flyover around the Ayyappa shrine as well as the roof of the holy 18 steps, shifting of the shrine dedicated to the Navagrahas, and for doing away with the practice of displaying the name of sponsors since the mid-1990s.
The PPMC chairman said the palace had also stressed the need for limiting the Kalabhabhishekom offering to the presiding deity to the fifth day in the Malayalam month of Makarom.
It had further stressed the importance of parading a caparisoned elephant for the procession held at Sabarimala in connection with the Makaravilakku festival. The devaprasnom too recommended the same, he said.
Mr. Raja said the Pandalam Palace was for redesigning of Saramkuthi on the Marakkoottom trekking path where an iconic peepal tree was destroyed by the Travancore Devaswom Board in the name of development two decades ago.
Concrete jungle
He said the TDB had been ignoring public complaints against converting the sacred grove of Lord Ayyappa into a concrete jungle and this should be changed for the better.
In fact, the devaprasnom has once again thrown light upon violation of various rituals and practices at Sabarimala, he said.
Ignoring the palace
Mr Raja said the TDB had been for long ignoring the Pandalam Palace. One should wait to see what the board does on its president’s words that the astrological ‘prescriptions’ would be implemented in a time-bound manner.
Mr. Raja said the PPMC was for preserving the pristine glory and sanctity of the sacred grove. The TDB and the government were bound to ensure due protection to the sanctity as well as the customs and tradition at Sabarimala in the larger interests of the scores of Ayyappa devotees across the world, he said.