By R. Rakendu
Sabarimala temple, a famous pilgrimage centre of the south is currently under controversy. The gold plating of the Dwarapalaka sculptures in front of the sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha temple in Kerala allegedly got replaced by copper.
The temple is under Travancore Devaswom Board. Devaswom Board President P. S. Prashanth has reiterated that there was no lapse in the current procedures in the renovation of the gold plating of the Dwarapalaka sculptures in Sabarimala. The gold plating on the sculptures were taken to Chennai for repairing a few years back, but he says that there was no lapse in taking the gold plating to Chennai for repairs. Unnikrishnan Potty, who was the priest of the temple is currently in controversy as he went to chennai with these gold plating in order to repair them. Prashanth said that the reason it was sent with Unnikrishnan Potty is that the warranty of 40 years is in his name.
“The gold plating was not given to Unnikrishnan Potty. It was safely brought to Chennai under police escort. The Dwarapalaka sculptures, which weigh 38 kg in 14 layers, contain 397 grams of gold. 12 layers weighing 22 kilograms were taken for repairs. Of these, 281 grams of gold was taken. 10 grams of gold was needed for renovation. With this, the total gold has become 291 grams. 407 grams of gold is now in the layers in 14 layers,” said PS Prashanth.
Unnikrishnan Potty also denied the allegation that there was a delay when the gold plating of the Dwarapalaka sculpture was taken for repair. “A delay of 39 days as alleged in the allegations are not true. There was only a delay of about a week. Repair work was recommended on the layers. That is what caused the delay,” he said.
A comprehensive investigation is demanded by the devotees. Soon after this incident, devotees started to raise their doubts regarding gold theft in other temples under Travencore Devaswom Board.