The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom have jointly launched a signature campaign opposing entry of women in the 10-50 age group to Sabarimala. The campaign was launched at a function held on the Ayyappa temple premises here on Sunday.
To PM, President
Tantri Kandararu Maheswararu Mohanararu inaugurated the campaign by signing a memorandum to be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee. The signature campaign at Pampa, on the foothills of Sabarimala, was inaugurated by Sakuntala Shetty, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. TDB president Prayar Gopalakrishnan said signatures of one crore Ayyappa devotees would be submitted along with the memorandum.
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He said women would not enter Sabarimala in violation of tradition, even if the court favoured their entry. Women’s entry had been restricted to ensure their safety too, he said.
The TDB chief said the temple authority was bound to protect the customs of the temple at any cost. He said a few women were trying to entire the temple because of their ignorance of tantric worship.
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The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala witnessed heavy rush when the five-day monthly rituals began on the first day in the Malayalam month of Edavom on Sunday.
The rituals began with Tantri (chief priest) Kandararu Maheswararu Mohanararu performing Ashtadravya Maha Ganapati homom in the morning. Kalabhabhishekom was performed prior to Utcha puja.
The Tantri, assisted by Melsanthi (head priest) S.E. Sankaran Namboodiri performed the kalabha puja .
Closure on May 19
The sandal paste offered to the deity was distributed among the devotees. Ashtabhishekom, Pushpabhishekom, Udayasthamana puja, and Padipuja were the other rituals performed.
The temple will be closed after Athazhapuja on May 19 evening, marking the culmination of the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Edavom.