Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Pathanamthitta (Kerala), Oct 15 (IANS) The ritual violation controversy at Kerala’s Aranmula Parthasarathy temple took a new turn on Wednesday, with the Travancore Devaswom Board seeking an explanation from its own officials, even as the Communist Party of India-Marxist-led Left government struggled to prevent a political fallout.
The controversy stems from the Ashtami Rohini Vallasadya held on September 14, when Devaswom minister VN Vasavan was allegedly given a feast before ritual offerings were made to the deity, in violation of temple tradition.
Tantri Thekkedath Kuzhikkattil Parameswaran Vasudevan Bhattathiri confirmed in a letter that this was a violation and directed that those responsible should make public atonement.
Letters were issued to the Board, Devaswom Commissioner, Administrative Officer, Palliyoda Seva Sangham and Temple Advisory Committee.
However, Palliyoda Seva Sangham countered the allegation, claiming that Tantri’s letter was based on wrong information provided by the board.
He claimed that the tantri had not directly witnessed the ceremony and that the ritual sequence was followed correctly.
He also alleged that the controversy had arisen in order to place the blame on the board itself.
Tantri’s open statement that the violations were flagged by board officials has put the CPI-M on the defensive, which had earlier accused the media of wrong reporting.
After this revelation, the Board Chairman has sought clarification from the Assistant Commissioner and Administrative Officer.
As per temple tradition, a ceremonial lamp is lit on the flagpole after the afternoon puja and before offering feast in the presence of the deity.
However, on Ashtami Rohini, the minister lit the lamp outside the temple before the prasad.
This deviation prompted protests from some devotees and later turned into a major controversy.
The Pathanamthitta district committee of the CPI-M termed the allegations as “false propaganda”, stressing that misleading devotees in the name of a deity is unacceptable.
But the temple advisory committee said there were clear violations and said it would stand by its complaint.
Tantri has called for public repentance from those responsible. Now, with differences of opinion among several stakeholders, the issue has turned into an embarrassment for both the board and the ruling party.
–IANS
SG/VD