Meat Consumed in Kerala Siva Temple?

Vadakkumnathan Siva Temple, located in the Thrissur district of Central Kerala, is one of the most popular Siva temples in the state. The temple is particularly renowned for its annual temple festival known as Thrissur Pooram. Like other major temples in Kerala, it is managed by the Kerala state-controlled Cochin Devaswom board.

This year’s Thrissur Pooram concluded a few days ago, and shocking details of temple desecration (“achara lankhanam”) have emerged. According to a report in Janmabhumi, devotees have made a serious allegation that meat was consumed within the temple premises. One of the devotees named Narayanan Kutty has reportedly filed a complaint with the ombudsman and the Cochin Devaswom board, citing the discovery of food remains and disposable containers in the Southern Gopuram (tower) of the temple, where entry is currently restricted. It is also alleged that several people, including members of the temple festival management committee, entered the temple wearing footwear.

These sacred spaces hold immense importance for those who follow the indigenous culture of this land. If the state government is unable to manage the temples while maintaining their sanctity, they should consider returning control to the devotees. It’s a pity that our sacred spaces are managed by those who either do not know or do not care about the profound significance of these powerful energy spaces. Furthermore, the dream of freeing our temples from government control still remains a distant one.