Pathanamthitta: Amid the row over the Sabarimala gold scam, Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan has found himself at the centre of a new controversy over alleged ritual violations at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple in Kerala. The incident reportedly occurred during the Ashtami Rohini Vallasadya held on September 14, where it is alleged that the ceremonial feast (sadya) was served to the minister before the ritual offering to the deity.

 As visuals of the event surfaced, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) sought an explanation from its officials.

Responding to the allegations, Minister Vasavan rejected any suggestion of ritual breach, stating that he partook in the sadya only at the insistence of the organisers.

 “Minister Prasad and two former MLAs accompanied me to the temple. The Palliyodam Committee president invited us for sadya after other temple events, explaining that having food was part of the ritual. We accepted the invitation and ate the food served by the organisers. At that time, no one raised objections. After a month, these allegations have surfaced. The organisers insisted that I join the sadya. Where is the violation in that? The charges are part of a conspiracy,” Vasavan said.

Tantri Thekkedath Kuzhikkattil Parameswaran Vasudevan Bhattathiri later confirmed in a letter that serving Vallasadya to the minister before the deity’s offering amounted to a ritual violation, directing those responsible to perform public penance. The Tantri’s letter was sent to the TDB, Devaswom Commissioner, Administrative Officer, Palliyoda Seva Sangham, and the Temple Advisory Committee, reported IANS.

Palliyoda Seva Sangham denies allegations
The Palliyoda Seva Sangham countered the Tantri’s finding, asserting that the letter was based on “misinformation” provided by the Board. The Sangham claimed the Tantri had not witnessed the event in person and maintained that the rituals were performed in the correct order. It also alleged that the Board had fuelled the controversy to deflect responsibility.

The Tantri’s statement that the alleged violation was brought to his attention by Board officials has placed the CPM — which had earlier accused the media of misreporting — on the defensive. Following these developments, the Board President has sought written explanations from the Assistant Commissioner and the Administrative Officer.

According to temple custom, the ceremonial lamp is lit at the flag mast after the noon pooja, and only thereafter is the feast offered in the presence of the deity. However, on Ashtami Rohini, the minister lit the lamp outside the temple before the offering, prompting protests from some devotees and triggering the current controversy.

The CPM’s Pathanamthitta district committee dismissed the allegations as 'false propaganda,' accusing opponents of misleading devotees in the deity’s name. The Temple Advisory Committee, however, maintained that a clear violation had occurred and affirmed its complaint.

With the Tantri insisting on public penance and multiple sides trading blame, the issue has become an embarrassment for both the Devaswom Board and the ruling party.