In a major development akin to the agitation for the control of Kasi Viswanatha Temple and Lord Krishn Temple, Mathura, a demand has been made by the Kerala wing of Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to “liberate” the holy shrine of Lord Ayyappa atop the Western Ghats from the shackles of government control and hand over the administration to the devotees.
Viji Thampi, president, Kerala VHP, told the media after a daylong conclave of the “Save Sabarimala Action Committee” at Chengannoor that political parties like the CPI(M) and Congress are working overtime to make Sabarimala Temple a milch cow to harvest the income received by the shrine to fill their party coffers.
“It has been thrice proved through Deva Prasnam (astrological probe) that there never was a character by name Vavar in the history associated with Lord Ayyapa whose birth is recorded in Bhagavata Purana. Ayyappa was born out of the union between Lord Shiva and Mohini (the female form of Lord Vishnu) and there never was an Islamic character named Vavar in this chronicle,” said Thampi while addressing the media after the deliberations.
The VHP as well as the Save Sabarimala Action Committee demanded that the ritual of worshipping at Vavar Mosque by Ayyappa devotees should be stopped forthwith. “There is no evidence of any connection between Vavar and Lord Ayyappa. The Ayyappa devotees paying obeisance at the Mosque during the pilgrimage to Sabarimala shrine is against tradition and customs. Vavar is part of created history by vested interests,” said Thampi.
Interestingly, this demand has been made a week ahead of the annual 41-day festival (Mandala Pooja) in the holy shrine which commences on 16th November. This is the period when lakhs of devotees assemble at the shrine after observing a stringent 41-day observation of fasting, celibacy and prayers. The VHP also alleged that mainline political parties are trying to create a wedge among the followers of Sanatana Dharma.
Those who attended the conclave and addressed the gathering include Kummanam Rajasekharan, former governor of Mizoram and the representative of the Pandalam Royal Family, the traditional trustee of the shrine.
Thampi exhorted the devotees making the pilgrimage to the shrine not to make any financial offerings at the temple as the entire income generated in the temple is diverted to non-spiritual purposes. “The Travancore Devaswam Board that administers the shrine is charging exorbitant rates for the prasadam which has not been blessed by Lord Ayyappa. The Board is cheating the believers,” said Thampi.
This is the first time Ayyappa devotees, who throng the shrine from India and abroad cutting across caste, communities, religions and nations, coming out with a statement openly condemning the concept of Vavar and ‘mismanagement’ of the temple administration. A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court is all set to hear a petition filed by believers challenging the earlier order of the apex court allowing women devotees between the age group of 12-55 from worshipping at the sanctum sanctorum of the temple situated in the dense forests of the high ranges.
