Divine Intervention

Until her fossilized memories of her 1987 temple trip to Sabarimala were rudely reawakened a fortnight ago.

Until her fossilized memories of her 1987 temple trip to Sabarimala were rudely reawakened a fortnight ago, Jayamala was a yesteryear lead actress from the Kannada film world. A children8217;s film she produced and released around the time of her memory re-lapse was her last claim to fame in a 33-year-old film career. The 1987 trip to the Swami Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala in neighboring Kerala is however giving the ageing actress more headlines than her celluloid histrionics ever did.

It all began when astrologer Parapangadi Unnikrishna Panniker began a process at the Sabarimala temple on June 16 to elicit the will of the deity. The 8216;devaprasnam8217; was being conducted after a gap of five years. Panniker8217;s mumbo-jumbo threw up a theory that a woman had violated the sanctity of the temple of the bachelor deity8212;displeasing the deity. He said he had received clear signs during his devaprasnam of a woman entering the 8216;Sreekovil8217; or sanctum of the temple. While over 50 lakh male devotees visit the temple every year, the entry of women between the ages of 15 and 50 to the temple is banned under the temple customs. Panniker went on to add that 8216;8216;the woman has connection with arts, possibly a danseuse or an actress8217;8217;.

The news of the happenings in Sabarimala provided Jayamala8217;s dormant memory cells an old reconnection. She remembered that on a visit to the temple in 1987 to seek a cure for her then husband8217;s damaged leg, she had been pushed into the temple, through a back door, by a surging crowd. She had fallen at the feet of the deity and had even touched them, she said.

Jayamala promptly dashed off a letter to the Devaswom board, which manages the Sabarimala temple, narrating her tale and seeking forgiveness from the deity for any transgressions on her part.

8216;8216;I had asked for my letter to be kept secret. The authorities at Sabarimala however made it public,8217;8217; Jayamala said in Bangalore after her letter began whipping up a socio-religious storm in Kerala. There have been few takers for Jayamala8217;s claim, saying it is impossible for a woman to gain access to the temple, leave alone approach the deity. The actress, however, stands by her claims and is willing to diagrammatically represent her temple venture.

Conspiracy theories are flying thick and fast on the timing of the claims. There are reports that the astrologer made his announcement after he received the letter from Jayamala. The temple high priests have dismissed the astrologer8217;s findings.

Incidentally, in 2001 when a devaprasnam was conducted at the temple, where Panikker was not present, no findings like the current ones were thrown up. The astrologer has denied accusations of mischief and called the campaign against him the 8216;8216;arrogance of Brahmins who are now conspiring against me8217;8217;.

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MEANWHILE, the Devaswom board is contemplating legal action against Jayamala. This is not the first time that the issue of women entering the Sabarimala temple site has caused angry debate in Kerala and the rest of southern India. About 13 years ago, danseuse Sudha Chandran had performed on the temple steps, creating similar outrage. It was after Chandran8217;s performance that the temple authorities tightened the restriction on women. The danseuse had said she will not tender an apology.

Jayamala, however, said she had forgotten about the 1987 incident until 1999 when her personal astrologer told her she had done 8216;8216;some wrong8217;8217;.

From all the air-headed arguments floating about, the real issue thrown up by the temple controversy is that of discrimination against women at the temple.