The violation of the temple practice of disallowing devotees sans the Irumudikkettu (sacred bundle) to step on to the Pathinettampady (holy 18 steps) leading to the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala the other day has kicked up a controversy.
Travancore Devaswom Board member K.P. Sankaradas has descended and ascended the 18 steps while accompanying the Melsanthi (head priest) for lighting the fire place (aazhi) at the Lower Tirumuttom on November 5.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Valsan Tillankery and a group of Hindu activists climbed the Pathinettampady following the chaos that erupted at the holy hillock on hearing the rumour that a woman below the age of 50 years was about to climb the sacred steps in violation of the temple custom and practice on November 6.
Talking to The Hindu, many Ayyappa devotees said that both the incidents were suggestive of the strictly avoidable hyper activism at a place of worship such as Sabarimala.
Venue of protests
‘‘A pilgrim centre such as Sabarimala, where believers of different religious faith offer prayers, should not have been made a venue of protests or a centre of controversy. The government, TDB and judiciary could not simply wash off their hands for the sad state of affairs at Sabarimala,’’ some of the pilgrims opined.
A pilgrim from Tirunelveli, who had introduced himself as Periyachamy, said the TDB should have erected appropriate notice detailing the custom and practices so as make the devotees aware of the facts. Though the government had put in place tight security arrangements from Vadasserikkara to the Sannidhanam to check protesters at the holy hillock, it proved futile as many senior BJP-RSS leaders, including K. Surendran and V.V. Rajesh, reached the hillock two days ahead of the celebrations. Ironically, the police had to seek the RSS leader’s help to mollify the protesters on November 6. The police even provided their megaphone to Mr. Tillankery to address the protesters. Meanwhile, tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu said he had not received any written complaint regarding the reported violation of the temple practice of stepping on the Pathinettampady by any person without the Irumudikkettu. Mr. Rajeevararu said he could take a decision on the atonement rituals to be performed in this regard only on the basis of a written letter from responsible quarters.
Duty-bound
The tantri reiterated that he was duty-bound to protect the custom related to the unique tantric practices at Sabarimala.