Rally planned on Ayyappa verdict

Nellore: Ayyappa Seva Samajam functionaries appealed to devotees to take part in a rally from V.R. College to Gandhi Statue at Trunk Road in Nellore on Monday to appeal to the Supreme Court to reconsider its verdict on entry of women into Sabarimala shrine.

Speaking to media persons at Ayyappa temple here on Saturday, Seva Samajam member and former legislator Mungamu-ru Sridharkrishna Reddy and Samajam president P.T. Ranarajan claimed that the stakeholders such as Pandalam royal family, hereditary priests of Sabarimala shrine, and the different organisations serving devotees were not consulted.

They said that no  pious woman would want to enter the temple despite the rulings because they are aware of the centuries old custom.

Mr Sridhar Krishna Reddy appealed to the Union government to bring an ordinance to protect the sanctity of Sabarimala.  

Reminding that the descendents of Thantri (chief priest) picked up by Lord Parasurama have been serving the presiding deity from time immemorial, Mr Rangarajan questioned the rational behind the verdict without consulting them on the traditions and customs.

He said those who managed to impress upon the court to allow women into the temple are atheists who want to hurt the sentiments of devotees.

Stressing that Ayyappa is not a misogynist and women are free to visit his temples across the country without any limitations, he said the restriction is applicable only to Sabarimala because Ayyappa laid down the condition being a naishtika brahmachari in the particular incarnation.