Finally, Sabarimala Dharma Shasta Sree Ayappan is going to have two types of devotees. The ‘very important’ and the ‘ordinary’.

The supreme court has allowed VIP darshan in this holy temple devoted to lord Ayyappan who had promised that his devotees will be given equal preference irrespective of caste, creed, money, or power. In fact Sabarimala is very much a symbol of unity and brotherhood. That is why this temple is admired by believers and non believers all around the country.

The temples of Kerala have a long history of racial and religious discrimination which many temples follow to the present day. Temples which restrict entry for non-Hindus or lower caste are a majority in this land of Gods. The lower caste people gained access to Guruvayoor temple only after the long and hard ‘Guruvayoor Satyagraha’ but still non-Hindus are not allowed to enter its premises. The fact is that a large number of non Hindus visit the temple each year and go undetected because Hindus don’t have horns to distinguish them. It is really disgusting that a state with 100% literacy behaving in such a way.

Sabarimala was different from all these. The devotees had to follow the unique religious rites and climb the 18 steps with their Irumudi on their heads irrespective of caste, creed, money, or power but now it seems the influential and the powerful are going to get an upper hand. The supreme court on January 5^th 2007 allowed VIP darshan in the temple as suggested by the Travancore Devaswom Board and the special Commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court without causing obstructions to the devotees standing in general queue. The bench which stayed the Kerala High Court judgment banning entry of VIPs inside the cabin of the sanctum sanctorum had accepted the joint memo presented by K.K. Venugopal appearing for the board and T.L. Viswanath Iyer appearing for special commission who had sorted out the differences in allowing the special benefit for the VIPs and  presented the memo explaining it.

The board later said 15 categories of persons would be allowed in the front cabin. They include the president and two members of board, special commissioner, three officials caring ‘Thanka Anki’ from arunmula temple for Mandalapuja and officials of board carrying ‘Thiruvabaranam’ on Jan 14 every year and VIP accompanied by up to four persons and former VIPs. 

With regard to ‘Udayasthamana puja and padi puja’, it was submitted that devotees who had booked them would be permitted entry but limited to six family members; Nitya puja, Uchapuja and Ushapuja tickets were being issued a day before and the devotees who had booked the first five tickets each day for each of the pujas would be allowed VIP darshan. Further children and physically disabled would be allowed darshan from a raised platform on the left side of the queue without causing any obstruction to devotees standing in the general queue.

Though the part of allowing a raised platform for the children and the disabled is generally welcomed the other undue advantage given to other so called VIPs is creating murmurs all around.

Array yaar! At least don’t reserve places in front of the Almighty, everyone must face the difficulties to get his darshan. At least, don’t create shortcut here.