Conversion ‘vazhipad’ at Kaviyoor temple

KOCHI: Even as the wrangle over conversion and ‘Ghar Vapas’ continues,  a temple in Kaviyoor in Kottayam district has put on its notice board  ‘conversion’ as an itinerary of vazhipad (offering) for the deity of the temple.

The Thrikkaviyoor temple under Travancore Devaswom Board has listed conversion in a long list of offerings starting with Ganapathi homam. Conversion is item number 46 next to ‘marriage’ and ‘kalabhabhishekam’ and the rate per head is Rs 151.

When queried how conversion found its way to the itinerary of offerings, TDB commissioner P. Venugopal said that this was there from the very beginning.

“Some of the temples have conversion in the list which I think is as old as the existence of the TDB. But I don’t think any mass conversion is happening on account of this. This may be to facilitate caste certificates to gain reservation benefits,” said Mr Venugopal.

Mr P.K. Sivan Pillai, a native of Kaviyoor, said that conversion was  in the itinerary of offerings of major temples under TDB. “It’s not part of minor temples.

I know some 7-8 people converting to Hinduism at the Thrikkaviyoor temple and later securing the caste certificate from the village office so as to secure reservation benefits,” said Mr Sivan Pillai.