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President Droupadi Murmu recently made a historic visit to the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Kerala, becoming the first woman head of state to offer prayers at the sacred hill shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.

She is only the second President of India to visit the temple, after V. V. Giri in the 1970s. The visit holds deep symbolic and constitutional significance, coming in the backdrop of the 2018 Supreme Court judgment on women’s entry to the shrine.

About Sabarimala Temple

• Location: Situated in the Western Ghats, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala.
• Deity: Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa (also known as Dharma Shasta), the son of Lord Shiva and Mohini (the female incarnation of Vishnu).
• Altitude: Located atop a hill at 4,134 ft above sea level, surrounded by dense forests forming part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
• Access: Pilgrims undertake a challenging trek through forests and hills to reach the sanctum.
• Pilgrimage: Open to devotees mainly during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season (November–January).
• Scale: Among the largest annual pilgrimages in the world, attracting 40–50 million devotees annually.

Rituals and Traditions

• Vratham (Austerity): Pilgrims observe a 41-day penance before visiting the shrine, maintaining celibacy, vegetarianism, and spiritual discipline.
• Inclusivity: Sabarimala is one of the few Hindu temples that welcomes devotees of all faiths.
• Religious Harmony: Near the temple lies Vavaru Nada, dedicated to Vavar, a Muslim saint believed to be Lord Ayyappa’s companion—symbolizing interfaith harmony.

Architecture

• The temple blends traditional Kerala and Dravidian architectural styles.
• Built on a 40-foot-high plateau, it features:
  • A sanctum sanctorum (Sreekovil) with a copper-plated roof and four golden finials (kalasams).
  • Two mandapams (halls) for rituals and gatherings.
  • A flagstaff symbolizing devotion.
  • The iconic 18 sacred steps (Pathinettam Padi), each representing a spiritual or philosophical stage to liberation.

Sabarimala Case: The Women’s Entry Controversy

• Traditional Practice: Women of menstruating age (10–50 years) were historically barred from entering the temple, as the deity is considered a Naishtika Brahmachari (eternal celibate).
• Judicial Intervention:
  • In 2018, the Supreme Court of India (in Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala) declared the ban unconstitutional, citing gender equality and freedom of religion under Articles14, 15, 25, and 26 of the Constitution.
  • The verdict led to widespread protests across Kerala.
  • The issue remains under review by a larger constitutional bench, reflecting the ongoing debate between faith and fundamental rights.