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On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu became the first serving state head to offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa at the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, making history. Four-wheel-drive vehicles have been scheduled to convey her along the trekking path from Pamba to Sannidhanam, where she will offer darshan and perform aarti.
The Travancore Devaswom Board, in collaboration with the police, has implemented stringent security precautions for the visit.
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President Murmu offers holdy rituals at Sabarimala Temple in landmark move
President Droupadi Murmu walked the 18 sacred steps to the shrine, where she was greeted by State Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President P S Prasanth. The temple Tantri, Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru, greeted her with a poorna kumbha.
The President visited the shrine and offered darshan to Lord Ayyappa, bearing the sacred bundle on her head. She and her colleagues then deposited their sacred bundles on the temple steps, and the melshanti (head priest) accepted the irumudikkettu for pooja.
After visiting many neighboring temples, including Malikappuram, the President returned to the TDB guesthouse for lunch and repose. TDB officials reported that there were restrictions on darshan for devotees during the visit.
Murmu became the first woman head of state to visit the Lord Ayyappa shrine and worship. She is the second Indian president to visit the shrine. Former President V V Giri visited Sabarimala in the 1970s, traveling to the shrine in a dolly.
Significance of Sabarimala Temple
The Sabarimala Temple is the home of Lord Ayyapa, a Hindu deity believed to be the son of Mohini, Lord Vishnu’s female form, and Lord Shiv, also known as “Hari-Har” putra.
As a result, the temple becomes highly respected in Hinduism, representing both Vaishnavism and Shaivism. Every year, millions of devotees travel to the holy hill of Sabarimala. To prepare for the journey, devotees must complete a strict 41-day vratham (fasting) that includes abstinence, vegetarianism, and prayer.
