Kochi: There are different versions as to why menstruating women were not allowed to enter the Sabarimala Temple. Legend has it that Ayappa was born to destroy a female demon who, thanks to a boon, could only be vanquished by a child born of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. When Ayappa fulfilled his call by killing her, a beautiful woman emerged from the body. She had been cursed to live as a demon, but her killing reversed the curse. She asked Ayappa to marry her but he refused.
However, Ayappa promised her that he will marry her when kanni-swamis (first time pilgrims) stop coming to Sabarimala. She now sits and waits for him at a neighbouring shrine near the main temple and is worshipped as Malikapurathamma. With hundreds of thousands of new devotees pouring in every year, her wait goes on. The legend goes further saying that in honour of Malikapurathamma, Lord Ayyappa does not receive menstruating woman. Also, the women chose not to visit Lord Ayyappa for it would be an insult to Malikapurathamma’s love and sacrifice.
There is no clear evidence as to when did the pilgrimage to Sabarimala begin. In 1821 AD, the kingdom of Pandalam was added to Travancore along with 48 major temples including the Sabarimala temple. The idol was erected in 1910. The temple conflagrated in 1971 and underwent a major revamp. While there are arguments that the ban of entry of certain age-groups of women was there from the very beginning, the then Sabarimala Thanthri Sri Neelakandaru made an assertion before the Kerala High Court, during the hearing of the ‘S Mahendran Vs The Secretary, Travancore case’ in 1991 that women belonging to the 10 to 50 age group were prohibited from entering the temple even before 1950.
S. Chandrika, former Devaswom Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board, had in the same case told the court that the restriction is there only during Mandalam, Makaravilakku and Vishu. The court was also told that even while the old customs prevailed, women used to visit the temple though very rarely. The Maharaja of Travancore accompanied by the Maharani and the Divan had visited the temple in 1940.
