Ayappa Mission opposes permission for women to visit Sabarimala

Chennai, Aug 3 (UNI) The All World Sri Dharmasatha Ayyappa Mission today strongly condemned the Trivancore Devasam Board's (TDB) reported decision to admit women to offer worship to Lord Ayappa at Sabarimala.

The Mission's founder Swami Nithyogi Rajamangalam told newspersons here that the move would spoil the sanctity of the hill shrine, besides paving way for other irregularities.

He said the Kerala Minister for Devaswom Board Sudhakar should give up the decision immediately.

Otherwise, the Mission would mobilise the support of Ayyappa devotees from different parts of the country and embark on a fasting agitation in front of the Kerala Assembly at Thiruvananthapuram soon, he added.

Recalling the controversy kicked up by Kannada film actress Jayamala by stating that she had accidentally touched the idol of the presiding deity of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala, he appealed to Kerala government and the TDB to solve the issue at the earliest. he also demanded the actress should apologise.

He pointed out that there were several irregularities both in the hill shrine and at the foothill. This was putting the devotees to untold sufferings.

The TDB should also look into it immediately, he also demanded.

Since the devottees from all parts of the country throngd the Sabaraimala hill shirine during the season, he demanded that the TDB should constitute advisory panels consisting of devottees from all states and the local officials must suggest ways and means to improve the administration of the temple and facilities for pilgrims.

UNI