Sabarimala all set for Mandala puja on Saturday

The annual Mandala Puja at the Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple in Kerala is not merely a religious event; it is a profound cultural, social, and legal touchstone in India. The recent ceremonial procession of the Thanka Anki, the sacred golden attire for Lord Ayyappan, arriving at Sannidhanam ahead of the Mandala Puja, signifies the culmination of the rigorous 41-day 'Mandala-Makaravilakku' festival season. This event, drawing millions of devotees, encapsulates deep-rooted traditions, administrative complexities, and ongoing debates surrounding religious freedom, gender equality, and state intervention in religious affairs.

**Background and Ritual Significance:**

Sabarimala, nestled in the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats of Kerala, is one of the most revered pilgrimage centers in the world. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappan, believed to be the son of Shiva and Vishnu (in his Mohini avatar). The pilgrimage is unique, requiring devotees to observe a strict 41-day penance (Vratham) before undertaking the arduous trek through the forest. The Mandala Puja marks the end of the first phase of this pilgrimage season, followed by the Makaravilakku festival in January. The Thanka Anki, a golden vestment, is an offering from the erstwhile royal family of Travancore and is adorned on the idol of Lord Ayyappan for the Mandala Puja, adding immense sanctity to the ritual. This tradition has been observed for centuries, cementing Sabarimala's status as a symbol of spiritual discipline and devotion.

**Key Stakeholders and Their Roles:**

Several entities play crucial roles in the Sabarimala pilgrimage. The **Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB)**, an autonomous body constituted under the Travancore-Cochin Religious Institutions Act, 1950, is responsible for the administration and management of the temple. The **Kerala Government** plays a significant role in maintaining law and order, providing infrastructure, and managing crowd control, especially during peak pilgrimage seasons. **Devotees** from across India and abroad form the core of this pilgrimage, adhering to traditional practices and contributing significantly to the local economy. The **Supreme Court of India** has emerged as a critical stakeholder, particularly after its landmark judgments concerning the temple's traditional restrictions.

**The Sabarimala Controversy and Constitutional Dimensions:**

Historically, Sabarimala had a custom of prohibiting women of menstruating age (typically 10 to 50 years) from entering the temple, based on the belief in Lord Ayyappan's celibate nature (Naishtika Brahmacharya). This tradition, however, became the subject of intense legal scrutiny. In 2018, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, in a 4:1 majority, ruled that the prohibition of women's entry was unconstitutional. The Court held that this practice violated fundamental rights, including **Article 14 (Equality before law)**, **Article 15 (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth)**, and **Article 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty)**. It also stated that the exclusion of women could not be considered an essential religious practice under **Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion)**, nor could the temple management claim protection under **Article 26 (Freedom to manage religious affairs)** to enforce discriminatory practices. The lone dissenting judge, Justice Indu Malhotra, argued for non-interference in matters of faith, stating that essential religious practices should be left to the devotees.

This verdict sparked widespread protests and a public outcry, particularly from conservative Hindu organizations and a section of devotees who viewed it as an infringement on their religious freedom and traditions. The Kerala government, initially supportive of implementing the verdict, faced significant challenges in ensuring its enforcement amid strong public resistance. Subsequently, numerous review petitions were filed against the 2018 judgment. In November 2019, a larger seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court referred these review petitions, along with similar issues from other religions (like entry of Muslim women into mosques, Parsi women into Agiary, etc.), to a larger bench, effectively keeping the 2018 verdict in abeyance regarding its broader implications while not staying it explicitly for Sabarimala. This means the legal status remains complex and evolving.

**Significance for India and Future Implications:**

Sabarimala's significance for India extends beyond religious piety. Economically, the pilgrimage generates substantial revenue for Kerala through tourism, transportation, and local businesses. Socially, the controversy brought to the forefront the delicate balance between individual rights (gender equality) and collective religious freedom, traditional customs, and the concept of 'essential religious practice'. It highlighted the deep divisions within society on issues of faith and modernity. Politically, the issue became highly charged, influencing state elections and national discourse on secularism and state intervention in religious institutions.

The future implications of the Sabarimala issue are significant. The decision of the larger Supreme Court bench will have far-reaching consequences, potentially redefining the scope of religious freedom, the limits of judicial intervention in religious practices, and the interpretation of fundamental rights in a pluralistic society. It will also influence how other discriminatory religious practices are viewed and challenged. The TDB and the Kerala government will continue to face the challenge of managing the massive influx of pilgrims while navigating complex legal and social dynamics. The ongoing debate underscores India's struggle to reconcile its constitutional ideals of equality and secularism with its rich, diverse, and often deeply traditional religious landscape.