Sabrimala Shrine

The Kerala High Court on Thursday rejected a plea challenging the recent selection of the 'melsanthi' or head priest of the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to accord urgent hearing on a contempt petition moved by a lawyers' group against Sabarimala temple authorities for closing the shrine after two women entered it.

The Supreme Court's verdict allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, was "disappointing", but the shrine board will accept it, head priest Kandararu Rajeevarau said.

The famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala would continue to be known by the name "Sabrimala Sree Dharma Sashtha Temple" as its management today decided to reject its rechristening as proposed by the previous body constituted by the UDF regime.

As a controversy brewed over the decision of Travancore Devaswom Board to rename Kerala's centuries-old hill shrine of Lord Ayappa at Sabarimala, a prominent Hindu community leader today said the temple should not be made subject of unnecessary controversies.

Thousands of devotees from different parts of the country offered worship at the hill shrine in Sabrimala during the 'Makara Samkrama puja' on Monday evening, marking the finale of the two-month-long pilgrimage to the famous Lord Ayyappa temple.

The hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa was closed on Tuesday evening after the Mandala pooja, the ritual marking the conclusion of the first phase of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. Mandala pooja was held after adorning the idol with 'thanka anki', which was brought here on Monday after a four-day journey from Aranmula Sree Parthasara...

The Kerala High Court on Thursday rejected a plea challenging the recent selection of the 'melsanthi' or head priest of the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to accord urgent hearing on a contempt petition moved by a lawyers' group against Sabarimala temple authorities for closing the shrine after two women entered it.

The Supreme Court's verdict allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, was "disappointing", but the shrine board will accept it, head priest Kandararu Rajeevarau said.

The famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala would continue to be known by the name "Sabrimala Sree Dharma Sashtha Temple" as its management today decided to reject its rechristening as proposed by the previous body constituted by the UDF regime.

As a controversy brewed over the decision of Travancore Devaswom Board to rename Kerala's centuries-old hill shrine of Lord Ayappa at Sabarimala, a prominent Hindu community leader today said the temple should not be made subject of unnecessary controversies.

Thousands of devotees from different parts of the country offered worship at the hill shrine in Sabrimala during the 'Makara Samkrama puja' on Monday evening, marking the finale of the two-month-long pilgrimage to the famous Lord Ayyappa temple.

The hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa was closed on Tuesday evening after the Mandala pooja, the ritual marking the conclusion of the first phase of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. Mandala pooja was held after adorning the idol with 'thanka anki', which was brought here on Monday after a four-day journey from Aranmula Sree Parthasara...