Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan used his inaugural address at the Global Ayyappa Sangamam to deliver a powerful political response. He addressed what his Left Democratic Front (LDF) government perceives as a deliberate effort by dominant right-wing groups to undermine Sabarimala’s long-standing secular identity and portray the revered hill shrine as a beacon of ‘revanchist Hindu orthodoxy’.
A key aspect of Mr. Vijayan’s speech was his emphasis on the ancient, ‘tribalist origins’ of the Ayyappa myth.
He recounted the legend that Sabarimala itself is named after Sabari, a revered tribal woman devotee from folklore who patiently awaited the arrival of Rama and Lakshmana during their exile, as depicted in the Ramayana.
The Chief Minister passionately highlighted the urgent necessity for a secular society to reinforce Sabarimala’s humanist spirit. This ethos, he noted, is perfectly captured by the Ayyappa faith’s core tenet, ‘Thathwamasi,’ signifying ‘the sameness of humankind’ or universal oneness.
He pointed out that this very Vedic-era aphorism, which underlines the profound universality of the human spirit, is prominently displayed at the temple’s entrance.
Embracing a Philosophy of Unity
Mr. Vijayan further elaborated that this humanist philosophy of oneness, so central to the Ayyappa faith, resonates deeply with the teachings of revered social reformers and spiritual leaders like Sree Narayana Guru, Chattambi Swamy, and Ramana Maharshi.
He underscored that the Sabarimala shrine welcomes all devotees, irrespective of their caste, community, language, or geographical origin. He cited the tradition where Ayyappa pilgrims respectfully visit the Arthunkal Church and the shrine of Vavaru Swamy—a legendary Muslim warrior and Ayyappa’s companion—as integral parts of their pilgrimage route to Sabarimala.
Mr. Vijayan also highlighted how Devarajan Master, an atheist, composed the music for the devotional song ‘Harivasanam.’ He added that the renowned playback singer K.J. Yesudas, a Christian by birth, immortalized this song through his rendition, making it an indispensable part of the temple’s daily rituals.
In what seemed a subtle critique of Hindutva organizations’ strong opposition to the Sangamam, Mr. Vijayan quoted the Bhagwat Gita. He used the scripture to affirm that genuine devotees promote unity and friendship, rather than acting as agents of hatred and division.
He further emphasized that the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who undertake the annual religious trek to Sabarimala predominantly belong to the working classes, and their well-being remains a top priority for the communist government.
Political Opposition to the Sangamam
Meanwhile, both the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders opted to boycott the conference, dismissing it as an election campaign tactic funded by taxpayers. Concurrently, Sangh Parivar organizations convened a separate ‘Sabarimala Summit’ in New Delhi.
Both opposition parties insisted that the LDF government demonstrate its genuine commitment to the Ayyappa faith. Their demands included retracting the government’s 2018 Supreme Court affidavit that supported the entry of women of childbearing age into the shrine, and dropping all criminal charges filed against thousands of Ayyappa devotees, including women, during the 2018 ‘Save Sabarimala’ campaign.