Just a day after her visit to the sacred Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, President Droupadi Murmu found herself at the heart of a fresh controversy. The issue arose when Rashtrapati Bhavan shared a photograph of her praying at the Malikappuram Devi temple, a move that allegedly breached long-standing temple protocols.
The contentious image, widely circulated on the President’s official social media accounts, offered an unprecedented glimpse into the inner sanctum of the temple, clearly depicting the deity. This immediate exposure of a profoundly sacred space, traditionally veiled from public view, swiftly attracted a torrent of criticism. In response to the growing public outcry, the Rashtrapati Bhavan promptly removed the offending post later that same day.
Even after the photograph was taken down, the incident continued to fuel an intense social media debate, with opinions sharply divided between those defending the President and those condemning the perceived breach. The controversy escalated further when a Deputy Superintendent of Police publicly criticized Rashtrapati Bhavan for ‘disregarding traditions’ via a WhatsApp message, notably pointing out the conspicuous silence from major political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, on the matter.
A Question of Protocol: Was it a Violation?
Sources within the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) affirmed that the photograph indeed constituted a breach of traditional temple protocol, given that it clearly displayed the deity’s face. They also highlighted that, in light of a previous High Court directive to avoid inconveniencing devotees, the President’s visit on October 21 and 22 caused considerable disruption to the ongoing pilgrimage.
However, when reached for comment, TDB president P.S. Prasanth stated that no official report on the alleged violation had been brought to his attention. He also refuted claims of pilgrimage disruption, clarifying that devotees were granted access to the hill temple immediately after the President’s departure on Wednesday.
Concurrently, D. Vijayakumar, general secretary of the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom, voiced his unease regarding the President’s transportation to the temple hillock via motorcade. He acknowledged, however, that since these arrangements were made with prior High Court approval, there was no legitimate basis for a formal complaint.
Debating the Ascent: Are Protocols Clearly Defined?
In contrast, S.J.R. Kumar, general convener of the Sabarimala Karma Samiti, firmly asserted that the use of a vehicle was entirely permissible. He clarified that no explicit rules dictate the method by which a devotee must ascend the hill; such strict protocols apply only from the sacred 18 steps leading to the temple entrance. Kumar elaborated that vehicles, including tractors and ambulances, have historically ferried people between Pampa and the Sannidhanam, and any current restrictions were the result of judicial intervention, not ancient temple traditions.