Kerala's Sabarimala temple has changed its name, giving the impression it was done keeping in mind the case in the Supreme Court on the entry of women of all age groups at the shrine.
The state government claimed it was kept in the dark with Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Tuesday saying it was violation of laws by the Travancore Devaswom Board to "secretly" change the name of the temple from Sabarimala Dharma Sastha to Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Swami temple.
Kadakampally Surendran said that he thinks this is a devious move by the Travancore Devaswom board to strengthen their position in the Supreme Court on the entry of women of all age groups in Sabarimala temple.
He said that he will ask the Devaswom Commissioner for a report on this. He reiterated that the Travancore Devaswom Board does not have the right to change the name of any temple.
The reason cited by the Board officials is 'idol concept', the set of tantric regulations associated with a temple. The 'idol concept' is the same reason raised by the temple authorities to prevent the entry of women of menstruating age at the shrine.
This comes just weeks after the Left Democratic Front government reversed the stand of the previous Congress-led dispensation and told the Supreme Court that it favours entry of women of all age groups at the temple.
Surendran said Board officials never "had the courtesy" to inform him or anybody else in the state government about the change of name though he held several meetings with them ahead of the pilgrimage season. He also said even the head priest of the temple was neither consulted nor informed of the change in name.
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