THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opening up on the Sabarimala temple issue, Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) on Sunday said that temples are the pillars to preserve traditions and customs and they must be adhered to.

Amma said this while addressing a mammoth gathering of Ayyappa Sangam here that was organised by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi, with the support of the Sangh Parivar outfits including the BJP.

"What has happened in Sabarimala is most unfortunate and whatever has happened there is because of lack of knowledge of customs and traditions of Sabarimala," she said. "There are different rules that are adhered to when one swims in a swimming pool, while there are no rules while swimming in a lake," said Amma.

"Traditions and customs have to be adhered to as that's what keeps us going."

The temple town has witnessed protests by Hindu groups since the September 28 Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of all ages to enter the temple, including those from the hitherto banned age group of 10 to 50 years.

“If there is no tradition, temples will be like kites with snapped strings. Those who make trouble are people who don’t know about traditions and temple concepts. There is no gender difference for gods but it is different in the case of temple installations. It is like the fish in the tank and those in the sea. The sea fish doesn’t need any care unlike in the case of tank fish. Also taking bath in a river is different from taking bath in a swimming pool. We’ll have to take bath and wear swimming suits before jumping into the pool. So different temples have different traditions, which even Shankaracharya and Sree Narayana Guru have allowed. As per rules a temple‘s deity is minor and it has caretakers like thantri, head priest and devotees. It is they who decide whether change in tradition is needed….” she said.

Attacking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was Swami Chidananda Puri, head of Advaithashramam who said that Pinarayi wanted to bulldoze the traditions of the Sabarimala temple.

"It is true that the apex court came out with its judgment but a sensible leader would have called for a discussion on this. But he was adamant. He abused the thantri first and then millions of Ayyappa devotees," said Puri.

Later, a pledge was read out which asked every devotee of Lord Ayyappa to stand together to protect the customs of the Sabarimala temple.