THE SABARIMALA CONTROVERSIES

Sabarimala, the divine hill abode of Lord Sri Ayyappa, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons for quite a while. Firstly, it was the case of one of its Tantris being involved in a scandal. Following that there was the controversy surrounding the appearance of a lamp in the horizon during the Makaravilakku season. Recently it involved the argument whether women of a certain age can be allowed to visit the hill shrine. And now, it is the debate over whether the temple can be allowed to remain open all through the year. Despite all the controversies, neither the power of Sri Ayyappa nor the love of His devotees to Him, have reduced even a bit. The media, for dearth of better news, take up each of the controversies and run it again and again till they can find something juicier. Even this time, the news is almost dying as news about dog bites in many cities of Kerala has come into focus. Yet certain things run in my mind and I need to put them down on paper.

I don't mean to hurt the sentiments of anyone by writing this article. If it does so, I may be pardoned for the same.

In the earlier days the hill shrine was mainly visited by people of Kerala state. The journey was difficult and took many days to complete. Even the shorter route to be done on foot, which was earlier from Chalakkayam to the temple, took many days as transport facilities were not enough. The journey was also filled with dangers from wild animals and illness. People carried with them food and utensils to last them through the journey. It was even a practice for the people going to the temple, not to say farewell to the family as many have not returned from the journey having died on the way due to many reasons. However things have changed drastically. Today people can make the journey up and down from many parts of Kerala in a single day. The shorter walk to the temple has become easier now with vehicles being able to go up to Pampa river. 

Before the pilgrims started their journey they observed a strict 41-day vegetarian diet. Along with that they also abstained from consuming liquor and having physical contact with their wives. All this was necessary to prepare them physically for the arduous journey they had to undertake to reach the shrine. Today the journey has become a one-day affair and hence the strict observation of food and other restrictions have also diluted. So much, that many people wear the obligatory garland made of Basil seeds on the day they leave for the shrine and remove it the same night. Many would criticize this. I am not here to judge or comment on that. I am only saying that the formalities and obligations have been diluted mainly because such physical fitness is not necessary as was needed earlier. And the dangers that were present earlier are not there now. Many don't abstain from liquor, non-vegetarian food or sex for the obligatory 41 days. All these have not reduced, in any way, the devotion that people have for the Lord.

The temple was earlier open only during the Mandalam and Makaravilakku seasons. Later the temple was open for 5 days every month. It was open 10 days continuously combining the last 5 days of one month and the first 5 days of the following month. This was done for the convenience of the pilgrims as the numbers started rising and the rush was too high during the seasons. Certainly this was a break from the earlier traditions. 

Looking at the above deviations from traditions, which have happened time to time, I don't see any reason for the present controversy over a suggestion made by the Kerala Chief Minister, that the temple be kept open all round the year. What is wrong with keeping the temple open on all days? The poojas are going to be conducted in the same manner every day. In fact when it is open all the days, the poojas will be conducted every day. It is said that the more pooja conducted to a deity, the more powerful it becomes. So that should be good for the temple and its devotees.

Who are people objecting to this? Mainly it is the Dewaswom Board, the Tantris and some activists. The devotees should be happy because this will mean they can visit the temple any time, without the seasonal rush and worship their dear Lord. Not just that, more facilities will come, because the businessmen will be assured of customers all round the year. The Dewaswom Board, which administers the temple, should also be happy because this will mean more money for the upkeep and maintenance of the temple. The reason for their objection seems to be without any reason. The Tantri may be upset as he would have to spend the whole year at the temple without the break that he would have got otherwise. I don't really know if the Tantri presently has to stay there even during the breaks. 

One cannot fault tradition because almost all of the temples are open throughout the year. The only exceptions are those like Badrinath temple which, due to climatic conditions cannot be kept open all round the year. One cannot say that opening the temple daily will make pilgrims to defy the obligatory restrictions and this will invite the wrath of the Lord. Even now many pilgrims don't observe these requirements. In most other temples around the world, pilgrims don't observe any special restrictions, even at the most popular and most worshipped Balaji temple at Tirupati. 

There are some restrictions to be followed in temples, based on our scriptures. These need not be broken to keep the temple open on all days. But barring that, I frankly feel God will only be happier and more pleased to see more of His devotees come to Him. God is very kind and will pardon anything when you surrender to Him totally.

Swamiye Saranamayyappa.