Adding a new dimension to the Sabarimala row, the Pandalam royal house that is closely associated with the Ayyappa legend on Saturday demanded a comprehensive inquiry into controversies triggered by the 'deva prasnam' (astrological procedure) held in the hill shrine recently.
Addressing a press meet, Ramavarma Raja of the Pandalam royal family sought government's intervention to save the shrine from the clutches of the 'corrupt' administration.
The conduct of the 'deva prasnam' itself appeared to be part of a conspiracy to defame the royal house which traditionally enjoyed certain privileges, including that of being the custodian of the 'holy ornaments' of the temple, he said.
On Kannada actress Jaimala's revelation that she had entered the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine 20 years back, he said such claims appeared to be part of a design to substantiate the 'deva prasnam' conducted by astrologer Parappanangadi Unnikrishna Panicker.
Demanding outright rejection of all the findings of the 'deva prasnam', Ramavarma Raja wanted all the facts regarding the 'deva prasnam', including the norms followed in the selection of the astrologer, to be brought out.
He said, for quite some time, there had been concerted efforts by the Travancore Devaswom Board to take away the rights and privileges of the royal house.
{{/usCountry}}He said, for quite some time, there had been concerted efforts by the Travancore Devaswom Board to take away the rights and privileges of the royal house.
{{/usCountry}}According to legend, the head of the Pandalam Royal house was the foster father of Lord Ayyappa.