Makaravilakku sanctity to be preserved: TDB chief

Tantri to be entrusted with Makaravilakku deeparadhana

A procession carrying the Brahmakalasom and Kalabhom for the Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom being performed at Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala on Thursday.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is bound to ensure the sanctity and ritualistic strictness of the Makaravilakku deeparadhana performed at the holy hillock of Ponnambalamedu, Travancore Dervaswom Board (TDB) president Prayar Gopalakrishnan has said.

Talking to The Hindu here on Thursday, Mr. Gopalakrishnan said the TDB would explore the possibility of entrusting the temple chief priest (Tantri) with the duty of performing the Makaravilakku deeparadhana at Ponnambalamedu on the Makara-samkranti day.

The tantric rites at Sabarimala is being performed by the two branches of the Thazhamon Madhom in alternate years. The TDB proposal is to entrust the Tantri with the duty of Makaravilakku deeparadhana every year, he said.

Mr. Gopalakrishnan said the Makara Jyoti and Makaravilakku were different entities. The celestial star ‘Dhruva’ is known as the Makara Jyoti while the sacred deeparadhana performed at Ponnambalamedu is the Makaravilakku.

Mr. Gopalakrishnan said the TDB firmly believed that entrusting the Tantri with the duty of performing the Makaravilakku deeparadhana would be in the interests of the scores of Ayyappa devotees across the globe. However, the board would seek the divine will through astrological consultation before taking a final decision on it, he said.

The TDB chief said there was no move to keep the flame (Makaravilakku) live for a few minutes during the deeparadhana at the Ayyappa Temple on the Makarasmkranti day, adding that the prevailing custom would continue.

No records on tribes

Mr. Gopalakrishnan said there was no record showing the tribes people lighting the Makaravilakku at Ponnambalamedu.

The TDB chief alleged that there were moves from certain political quarters to intrude into the tribal belt and create confusion among the tribes people over the sacred Makaravilakku deeparadhana.

Mr. Gopalakrishnan said the devotees and the TDB should be vigilant against such kind of political machinations to create divisions among the Ayyappa devotees and destroy the Ayyappa cult itself.