The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) decision to change the name of the centuries-old Sree Dharma Sastha Temple at Sabarimala was grossly against the custom and tradition of the temple administration and not to speak of its impace on the devotees’ sentiments across the globe, former board member P.K. Kumaran said here on Tuesday said.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Kumaran said Ayyappa devotees would never accept this change and the TDB should unconditionally withdraw its decision.
Mr. Kumaran said, to his knowledge, no previous board had made any proposal to change the name of the Sabarimala temple. He said the official statement of the TDB in connection with the name change was not at all correct.
No discussions held
The former TDB member said there was no discussion held in connection with it at any of the board meetings attended by him.
It is believed that Lord Ayyappa had merged with the presiding deity at the ancient Dharma Sastha temple at Sabarimala. The Sabarimala temple was Sree Dharma Sastha Temple during the installation of the original temple, centuries ago and the TDB was not supposed to make any changes in it, he said.
Mr. Kumaran said the duty of TDB was to administer the temple and not to change the name of any temple.
Women’s entry
Mr. Kumaran said he fully endorsed the government stand on permitting entry for women in all age groups to Sabarimala.
However, the former board member said, he personally preferred permitting women of all ages to Sabarimala only during the monthly puja period and not during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival season, taking into the special geographic condition of the pilgrimage centre.
Says decision against temple’s custom, tradition
‘No previous board had made any proposal to change the temple’s name’
Says he preferred
permitting women during monthly puja period, instead of annual pilgrimage
