The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom (ABASS) will cut the 64-year-old teak tree identified at Vayakkara in the Naduvathumoozhy range of Konni Forest Division on September 16 for installing an all new temple mast at the Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala.
‘Vrikshapuja’
Talking to The Hindu , N. Velayudhan Nair, ABASS general secretary, said the Sabarimala Tantri (chief priest), Kandararu Rajeevararu, had performed the customary Vrikshapuja, seeking permission to cut the tree, at Vayakkara, earlier, on August 27.
Mr Velayudhan Nair said, as it being the custom, the tree would be cut with utmost care so that it would not touch the ground.
He said the Sanghom has made elaborate arrangements for transportation of the 175-cm-long log of teak wood to Sabarimala.
He said it would be taken to Pampa via Pandalam.
Before the carpentry work, the raw teak wood would be properly treated, soaking it in oil for about an year.
It will be taken to the holy hillock of Sannidhanam from Pampa only after completing all the major carpentry work, Mr Nair said.
Temple mast
The new temple mast at Sabarimala will be installed in 2016.
The decision to replace the existing gold-plated temple mast with a new one came in the wake of the astrological consultation (devaprasnom) held at Sabarimala in 2014.
The devaprasnom prescribed replacement of the temple mast, as it has been found damaged.
The Ayyappa Seva Sanghom has come forward to sponsor the teak wood required for the mast.
The teak wood would be given as its offering to the presiding deity.
Elaborate arrangements for transportation of the 175-cm-long log
