Is Pottukuthal Ritual An Essential Religious Practise In Erumely Dharma Shastha Temple? Kerala High Court Calls For Dewaswom Board's Response
Manju Elsa Isac
4 Oct 2024 3:10 PM IST
The Kerala High Court has directed the Standing Counsel of the Dewaswom Board to get instructions as to whether pottukuthal is an essential religious practice in the Erumely Dharma Shastha Temple.
The Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P. G. Ajithkumar made this direction in a petition filed by two Ayyappa devotees challenging the notice inviting tender from private agencies for undertaking and managing the custom of pottukuthal.
The tender is issued keeping in mind the upcoming poojas in Mandalam Makaravilakku and Meda-vishu. As per the tender notice, the entrusted agency can charge upto Rs. 10 from each devotee for pottukuthal.
The petition argues that this attempt to charge Rs. 10 for an essential religious custom violates the Freedom of Religion. The petitioners submitted that once private players come into place, a devotee without Rs. 10 will be discriminated. He said that any contribution made by the devotee for performing pottukuthal should be voluntary
The petitioners argued:
“The contribution/ Dakshina by a devotee for making use of Bhasma/ Chandan should always be voluntary since it is part of his religious belief. Compelling a devotee to make payment for mere use of Bhasma/ Sindoor will hurt and insult the religious sentiment of the devotee”
The petitioner submitted that the Sabarimala pilgrims after performing the Pettathullal and taking the holy bath performed pottukuthal whereby they applied sacred ash/ Chandan/ sindoor over their forehead and different parts of the body. Earlier the temple management of the Erumely Dharma Shastha Temple provided the Sacred Ash/ Sindoor/ Chandan free of cost. A hundi was also kept near it to which devotees made voluntary contributions after applying the Sacred Ash/ Sindoor/ Chandan.
The petitioner further submitted that recently, some unauthorised private entities set up stalls and started selling the Sacred Ash/ Chandan/ sindoor and took a contribution from the Devotees. The petitioner mentioned that he at several instances informed the authorities about this exploitation of the devotees by private agencies.
The Travancore Devaswom Board had reportedly said that the tender was issued to curtail unauthorized persons from collecting money from the devotees. They also mentioned that through this, the amount collected is standardised and capped at Rs. 10.
However, the petitioner argued that the Devaswom Board have other means to curtail the illegal collection of contributions. They could identify more places to provide sacred Ash/ Sindoor/ Chandan. The petitioner further submitted that once this is entrusted to private agencies, the Dewaswom Board loses the revenue it received from the voluntary contribution of the devotees to the hundi.
The Court thus directed the Standing Counsel to produce the photos of the mirrors fitted at the nadapanthal of the temple set up by the temple administration, where the pilgrims can apply sacred ash/ sindoor/ Chandan free of cost.
The matter is next posted for 8th October.
The plea was moved by Advocates Sajith Kumar V., Vivek A. V., Sreehari V. S.
Case Title: Manoj S. Nair and Another v Travancore Devaswom Board and Others
Case No: WP(C) 34716/ 2024
