In July 2010, a Kerala High Court order on Sabarimala Temple paved the way for mixed public response, debate and in some ways, outrage. The Sabarimala is one of South India’s most revered pilgrimage centers, bringing together people from all castes and religions to climb the mountain and reach the abode of Lord Ayappa, who is believed to be the Hindu God of Dharma. Many myths and stories surround the Sabarimala temple, which is located in Pathanathitta district in Kerala.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ayyappa meditated in Sabarimala after destroying the evil and powerful demon, Mahishi. The temple is situated at a height of 914 meters above the sea level. About 45 to 50 million pilgrims, across the world, visit the temple every year. However, girls and women between the age group of 7 to 50 years are not allowed in the temple, as Ayyappa is a Brahmachari. A more liberal view about this rule is that it intended to ensure that women are not put through the difficulty of traversing the mountain under rigorous conditions and their comfort and safety too could be an area of concern on a pilgrimage like this.
Sabarimala Temple: Court Directs Changes, Temple Authorities Oppose it
The Kerala High Court recommended that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the temple administration, should consider widening the much worshipped 'Pathinattam Padi' (the 18 holy steps) and the door of the 'Srikovil' (sanctum sanctorum). The court’s suggestion was with a view to reduce the hardships faced by millions of devotees who visit the temple and suffer innumerable difficulties. However, for Ayappa devotees, walking through the 18 holy steps is believed to cleanse all karmic debts from this birth and previous births. Therefore, the court’s ruling caused considerable public outrage, anger and disbelief in most parts of Kerala.
The order was issued in response to a complaint filed by a devotee regarding the narrow steps of the temple and after considering the report of the Special Devaswom Commissioner, Rajendran Nair.
The division bench comprising of Justice C N Ramachandran Nair and Justice P S Gopinath, ordered the TDB to consider the matter, immediately. Although, the matter was not included in the temple’s master plan, the court directed the Board, to address the matter as a special case. Further, it has directed the Board to submit a report within a period of one month.
The court said that the matter should be taken up on priority, considering hardships of the devotees. It has also directed the Board, to consider erecting a conveyor belt, to make it easier for the devotees to visit the temple.
However, the Court’s suggestions were not welcomed by the Sabarimala temple authorities. The temple’s head priest, Thantri Kanderaru Mahesweraru and the famous Vaastu expert, Cheruvalli Narayanan Nampoothiri refused to make any changes in the temple’s original structure. The temple authorities pointed out that the Sabarimala temple has been built based on scientific calculations and the 18 holy steps hold great religious relevance. The temple authorities indicated that complying with the court’s suggestions would hurt the sentiments of millions of Ayappa devotees.
It will take considerable time before any significant changes can be made inside the Sabarimala Temple. Having established itself as the peoples’ temple of Dharma, there is very little that court orders can do because the beliefs of millions of followers are at stake and the power of such beliefs cannot be easily brushed aside by the custodians of law.
What about safety, security & hardships faced by millions of devotees who visit the temple and suffer innumerable difficulties.
Will trustees be held responsible for casualties in case of gate crash or stamped? Why there are differentiation between riches, poor and celebrities at religious places?
There is only one temple in the world where you can enter without cast and religious and equality system. Why the temple is so famous because of its equality. There is no category like riches, poor and celebrities in this temple. Once you start put the comments you should understand the temple background and history.
Learned Judges need not act like Managers of Temple. It can use prerogative writs better used outside the temple for providing facilites to devotees but not inside temple.
This is not advice to implement the court advice. We have to think as real story. If devaswam board will desired the court advice all devotees will disappointed. As well as devaswam board will ask to lord iyyappa through the DEVA PRANGAM this all will be do or not.
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