Stock register burned; crores collected despite having sponsor: Sabarimala flagpole, Vajivahanam case reaching new heights

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The SIT will investigate the case of gold theft under the pretext of the renovation of the flagpole in Sabarimala and the handing over of the Vajivahanam on the flagpole to the Tantri. It is indicated that the Tantri and the then board members, including Ajay Tharayil, will be accused.

The Devaswom Commissioner had issued an order on September 17, 2012, stating that the old objects in the temples should be kept as the property of the Devaswom and that no one has the right to take them away. This order was approved by the Devaswom Board. In 2017, the Vajivahanam was given to the Tantri by Prayar Gopalakrishnan, who was the president of the board, and Ajay Tharayil, who was a member.

The 11 kg Vajivahanam, made of Panchaloham and covered in pure gold, was seized during a raid at the house of Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru. The gold for the new flagpole was sponsored by the Phoenix Group of Andhra Pradesh. No one else's gold was used. The audit was not conducted because the Devaswom did not spend money. Despite the fact that the Phoenix Group of Andhra Pradesh was sponsoring by giving Rs 3.22 crore, a huge amount of money was collected to renew the flagpole. The SIT has information that about Rs 2.5 crore was collected from devotees, including film stars.

The idols of the Ashtadikpalakas, the banyan tree leaf figures, and the gold-plated bushels that were on the flagpole are missing. There is no information about the kilos of gold that were wrapped around the flagpole. The SIT has information that the stock register at the time of changing the flagpole was destroyed by fire. Meanwhile, Ajay Tharayil responded that the Vajivahanam was given to the Tantri as per Tantric rules and that he was not aware of the 2012 order.

Wrong according to tradition also

According to the Tantra Samuchaya, when changing the flagpole, if it is made of wood, it should be burned in fire. If it is made of metal, it should be melted and given to the Acharya. The Acharya or Tantri should not accept an image or idol that has not been altered. The then board and the Tantri have now become involved in the case because of the order that the old materials should be kept as property of the Devaswom, no matter what the tradition is.

"The Vajivahanam was handed over to the Tantri without any documents. I was not present at the board meeting that decided to renew the flagpole. The Vajivahanam was handed over to the Tantri by Prayar Gopalakrishnan, who was the board president, and Ajay Tharayil."

-K Raghavan,

Member of the board at that time