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TDB to use only genuine sandal paste at temples

PATHANAMTHITTA: Travancore Devaswom Board president C.K. Gupthan said that appropriate steps would be taken immediately to use only genuine sandal paste at various temples under to the board.

Talking to The Hindu, the TDB chief said directives had already been issued to the board officials concerned in this regard. There were allegations that the sandal paste being distributed to devotees at various temples was the waste left after extraction of oil from sandalwood at various sandal oil factories.

Devotees applying the paste on their foreheads were complaining of itching and other skin problems.

There were also reports of preparation of ‘kalabhom’ (sandal paste) by mixing acid with the waste material collected from sandal oil factories, causing burns on the foreheads of many devotees. Mr. Gupthan said such malpractices in temples would not be permitted and stern action would be taken against the temple staff who failed to comply with the board directive. He said special care should be taken to distribute only genuine sandal paste as ‘prasadom’ to devotees.

It was noteworthy that the High Power Committee of 1992, chaired by the Chief Secretary, had categorically stated that only genuine sandal paste should be used in temples.

The TDB purchased sandalwood logs worth Rs.45 lakh from the Forest Department in 1994 for supplying it to various temples.

However, the TDB gesture failed to meet its very purpose.

Mr. Gupthan said the TDB Vigilance wing had been asked to conduct surprise inspections with a view to ensuring strict execution of the board directives. Meanwhile, the temple staff complained that the fund allocation for purchasing sandalwood and other materials for various temple rituals was meagre and needed to be revised in tune with current prices.

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