Big fraud in Malaysia in the name of Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple

KOCHI: Sale of fake puja materials is booming in foreign countries. These Pooja materials are being sold in the market, feigning as prasadam from Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple. The prices of these materials are staggeringly high, as they claim that the Kumkum and chandanam from the temple possess the power to seduce whoever the person wishes for.

Temple manager Ranjini filed a complaint with the Chottanikkara police on March 26, but no further action was taken. It is suspected that many people have been victims of the fraud. A young woman named Surya, a native of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is selling the materials online after luring people through TikTok reels filmed inside the Chottanikkara temple. She has posted an edited picture of herself standing next to the shrine, where photography is prohibited. The price of the composite in a small glass bottle is 86.70 Malaysian ringgit (Rs. 1,850).

There is a big following for Chottanikkara Bhagavathy in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Most of the devotees are Tamils. Some of them occasionally visit the temple for darshan and seek vashya sandalwood from counters and shops nearby. It is doubtful that some employees of the temple and priests are in cohorts with the gang.

A video of a sandalwood seller washing her feet in the Arattu pond in the Keezhkavu shrine is also being circulated on TikTok. It is not clear when she reached the temple pond. Devotees can enter the pond only on the day of Arattu.

A preliminary investigation was conducted into the sale of fake prasad. A case was not registered due to a lack of further information. The help of the cyber police has been sought.

- K.N.Manoj, Chotanikkara Inspector