SABARIMALA: The three-day ‘ashtamangala devaprasnam’, which concluded here on Sunday, felt the need for the continued use of elephant for the annual 10-day festival of the Lord Ayyappa temple.
The ‘devaprasnam’, led by Irinjalakuda Padmanabha Sarma, suggested the use of caparisoned elephant for the procession carrying the thidambu with the Sreebali idol of Lord Ayyappa inside for the pallivettah ceremony on the ninth day and for the arattu procession carrying the Sreebali idol for the ceremony at Pampa.
It may be recalled that the immediate need for the present ‘devaprasanam’ was in the aftermath of the unfortunate incident of the thidambu falling down from the caparisoned elephant when the animal ran amok while coming for the arattu ceremony at Pampa in April. The ‘devaprasnam’ suggested the shifting of the location of minor deity Kochukadutha to a new location near another deity Valiyakadutha at Lower Thirumuttom near the Holy Steps.
Sree Rama Padom
The ‘devaprasnam’ wanted the location of Sree Rama Padom at Pampa, considered as the footprint of Lord Rama while travelling through Sabarimala forest on the way to Lanka to find Sita Devi to be protected. It is situated on the bank of the river at Chakupalam near Pampa KSRTC Bus Station.
The ‘devaprasnam’ also suggested the need for the protection of the location of the annual Guruthi, seeking the blessing of Goddess Kali at Pampa near the Pandalam Raja Mandapam.