THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A ritual associated with the installation of a new flagmast is going on at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here. The complex set of customs and practices are being performed here in accordance with the tantric tradition.
The new flagmast was proposed for the Thiruvambadi temple, the shrine of Lord Krishna inside the Padmanabhaswamy temple complex, after the old one showed signs of wear and tear.The teak wood for the flag mast was brought from the Konni forest division in Pathanamthitta district nine months ago.
Special poojas seeking permission of Mother Nature was performed before the tree was cut.
Cutting and transportation of the wood was an ardous task since, as per tradition, it should not touch the earth. The wood was then kept on the temple premises in a raised position to avoid contact with the earth. After the wood was left for drying for months, its seasoning was started a few days ago.
The wood is now immersed in an ennathoni, a huge canoe-shaped vat, filled with specially-prepared oil. The ritualistic immersion was led by temple thantri Tharananelloor Parameswaran Namboodiripad and Tharananelloor Satheesan Namboodiripad.Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, head of the erstwhile Travancore royal family, members Pooyam Thirunal Gowri Parvati Bayi, Avittom Thirunal Aditya Varma, representatives of the Ettara Yogam and temple executive officer V Ratheesan were the other dignitaries present at the function.
The 42-foot long teakwood will be left for the oil seasoning for the next six months.“Devotees will be given an opportunity to participate in the ritual by offering the medicated oil for seasoning. Two types of offerings - one costing Rs 200 and the other Rs 3,000 - can be made,” said temple’s Information and Publication superintendent D Achuthan.
The flag mast works are done by noted temple sculptors TJ Sunoj and Manoj. The oil for seasoning, an Ayurvedic mix of different herbs, was prepared by Venu Achari.The ennathoni has now become a centre of attraction for the devotees turning up to have a darshan of Lord Sree Padmanabhasamy.