Devaswom Board to discuss controversy over Sabarimala

Thiruvananthapuram, June 28 : The Travancore Devaswom Board today made it clear that it would take the Kannada actress Jaimala's disclosure seriously and proper action would be taken at the Board meeting scheduled for July seven.

''The Board noted the issue very seriously and proper action, including an inquiry by the Vigilance SP, would be taken at the Board meeting,'' Board Member Punalur Madhu told UNI.

He said no one other than the Thanthri and the chief priest could touch the idol, even though many assistant priests could enter the sanctum sanctorum to help the chief priest in the daily poojas.

''All the aspects on how and with whose help she touched the idol should be inquired into and if anybody is found guilty, action will be taken against them,'' he said.

The revelation of the actress coming close on the heels of the findings in the 'Devaprasnam' that a woman's presence was found in Ayyappa idol had raised the intensity of the issue, he added.

As the incident had hurt the faith of crores of devotees, the Board would take it seriously, as it had the responsibility to clear their apprehension, he said.

Board Commissioner C G Sachidanandan said there was some contradiction on the statement made by the actress that she fell towards the idol following a push by somebody in the rush at the temple.

''It will not happen in any way, as the the idol is seven feet away from the main door of the sanctum sanctorum,'' he pointed out.

''There are two idols of the same size and shape of the original one in the rooms of the chief priest and the Thanthri. She might have fallen on the idols kept in the room of the Thantri because of the rush and she might have mistaken it for the main idol,'' he said.

However, it should be probed how a young lady entered the temple, as the temple tradition was against allowing young women into the temple, he added.

He also said that till 1990 there was no strict checking at Pamba, the entry point to the hill temple and she might have entered the temple, he added.

Following a High Court order that women aged between 10 and 50 should not be allowed to enter the hill shrine, the Board had deputed lady special officers, women police constables and Devaswom guides to prevent women from entering the temple.

The Commissioner said the Board would sent notice to Ms Jaimala seeking her clarifications on the issue.

The issue could not be taken lightly as it would harm the belief of the devotees and the credibility of the temple traditions, he added.

Mr Sachithanandan said except three priests -- the Thanthri, chief priest and an assistant -- no one was permitted to touch the idol.

Narrating the procedure of the final ritual of the day, he said the Chief priest, who possess the temple key, would on all days had to inform the temple manager that he had closed the temple after the ''harivarasanam pooja'' and would meet tomorrow. The next morning he opens the temple in the presence of the temple manager, he added.

Earlier in the day Supreme priest of Sabarimla Ayyappa temple, Kanteru Maheswaru Thantri had stated that there was ''some mystery'' on the disclosure of Kannada actress and producer Jaimala that she had touched the Ayyappa idol by enetering the sanctum sanctorum.

He had also submitted memorada to Devaswom Minister and Travancore Devaswom Board President urging a proper inquiry into the disclosure.

He also said ''there is no chance for a devotee, particularly a woman, to enter the sanctum sanctorum.'' No such incident had happened in his knowledge, the Thantri said and stressed that the chances of a woman entering the temple in the presence of a large number of devotees, Devaswom officials and security people, was very remote.

Ms Jaimala yesterday had revealed that she along with her husband had visited the temple in 1987 and touched the idol of Lord Ayyappa.

Noted film actress Sudha Chandran had also disclosed that about 20 years ago she with three others had visited the temple.

UNI