Involve tribals also in Makara ritual: Tantri

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The chief priest of the Sabarimala temple, Tantri Kantararu Maheswararu, on Tuesday urged the Travancore Devaswom Board to involve tribals also in lighting the Makara Vilakku since it was their traditional ritual to begin with.

Welcoming the Kerala High Court verdict allowing the TDB to continue with the Makara Vilakku ritual, he said that two members of the Malayaraya community and a temple priest should together conduct the deeparadhana on Makara Sankranti day.

“The tribals have been observing the rite for a century and as chief priest I feel that their rights should not be taken away,” said Maheswararu, and his grandson, Rahul Eswar.

The chief priest lauded the HC for clearing the confusion over Makara Jyothi and Makara Vilakku, and expressed the hope that this would settle the controversy over the issue.

However, when asked who had been lighting the Makara Vilakku for so many years, the tantri family members said, “We don't really know.”

Mr Eswar said the tantri did not have jurisdiction over all spots in Sabarimala and was not aware how the lamp was lit so far.

Criticising the members of the Pandalam Royal family for airing a dissenting opinion on the issue, Mr Eswar said: “We all know who expelled Swami Ayyappan himself from the household for the sake of power. Need we say more?”