Dwarapalaka sculpture controversy: Mahasar filled with lapses; many important signatures not made; lapses even during reinstallation

PATHANAMTHITTA: There is a mystery in the Mahasar prepared when the layers of the Dwarapalaka sculptures taken from Sabarimala to Chennai in 2019 for gold plating were installed back in the Sannidhanam. Neither the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, the official custodian of the valuable treasures of the Sabarimala temple, nor the Devaswom Smith, who is supposed to certify their quality and quantity, nor the Vigilance Officer, who is supposed to monitor the procedures, signed the Mahasar. The quantity, weight and value of the gold and copper used to coat the copper layers are not described in the Mahasar.

The Mahasar prepared by Executive Officer VS Rajendra Prasad has been signed by twelve people including him. The layers were brought back and fixed on the Dwarapalaka sculptures on September 11, 2019. The Mahasar dated July 19 and 20, 2019, states that the sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty was entrusted with the task of gold plating the copper plates covering the north and south walls of the shrine.

It was taken on July 20. On August 29, the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner visited the Smart Creation Company in Chennai and recorded in the Mahasar prepared there that 14 parts of the sculpture plates were handed over to Unnikrishnan Potty. This is how it was found that there was a delay of 39 days. All these steps were taken as per the order ROC No. 9097/2018 dated July 6, 2019, issued by the Devaswom Board. When the Mahasar came out, it became clear that the things were done with the knowledge of the Devaswom Board President and members. After the gold plating was done on the taken items and when they were returned to the Sannidhanam, it was the responsibility of those concerned to have them checked by the Devaswom Smith and record the value, quantity and weight in the Mahasar. It is clear that these were attached to the Dwarapalaka sculptures in the presence of those who were not skilled in checking the quality of gold.

It also turned out that the initial stance of the then Devaswom President A. Padmakumar that the Dwara Palaka sculptures were made of copper was intended to create a misunderstanding.

Signatories to the Mahasar:

Thantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru

Melshanthi V.N. Vasudevan Namboothiri

Duty guards R. Somasekharan Nair, P.S. Kannan

Watchers C Suresh Babu, S. Divakaran

Sabarimala Maramath Third Grade Overseer Varun Karunakaran

Head Accountant R. Sankaranarayanan

Sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty

Administrative Officer S. Sreekumar

Executive Officer V.S. Rajendraprasad