The Sri Mridanga Shaileshwari Temple committee has withdrawn its plan to host an Iftar Sangam, at the temple premises. This temple is home to Sree Porkali, the ancestral deity of Kerala king Varma Pazhassi Raja.
Located in Muzhukkunnu Grama Panchayat, the Mridanga Shaileshwari Temple is a revered Bhagavathi temple where Goddess Durga is the presiding deity. The temple also houses deities such as Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kali (Porkali), Ganapati, Dakshinamurthy, Shasta, and Naga gods. Historical records suggest that Guruthi Puja was conducted here before the Pazhassi Raja war. This temple is one of the 108 Durga temples believed to have been established by Parashurama and is said to be over 2,000 years old. A full-length statue of King Pazhassi stands near the temple as a tribute to its rich history.
The Sri Mridanga Shaileshwari Temple Porkali Kalasha Committee had initially organized the event for the residents of Muzhukkunnu Mahal, scheduling it for 6 PM on 26 March at the temple auditorium. However, the Hindu Seva Kendra challenged this initiative by filing a petition in the High Court. The petition was set to be reviewed on 26 March, but before that, the Malabar Devaswom Board stepped in and informed the court that the event would not take place. Advocate Krishnaraj represented the Hindu Seva Kendra in the case.
The temple, which operates under the Malabar Devaswom Board, is managed by a committee affiliated with the Marxist Communist Party of India (CPIM). The local CPIM leadership oversees temple festivals and other rituals, with both contractual and permanent job positions within the temple being assigned to CPIM members.
The Hindu Seva Kendra proudly announced the successful prevention of the proposed Iftar gathering at the Sri Mridanga Shaileshwari Temple, stating, “Running with your Iftar plate… The High Court has arrived.” It is with great joy that we inform all believers that the Iftar gathering, which comrades had planned to hold at the Mridangashaileshwari Temple, has been completely scrapped. The plan was to organize an Iftar feast in the temple auditorium under the name of the Kalasha Committee, which had been packed with comrades. Yesterday, the court sent a notice via a special messenger to the temple executive officer and the Kalasha Committee, ordering them to appear at 2 PM today. The complete surrender ceremony that took place in court was so overwhelming that it brought tears to the eyes of those witnessing it. What Iftar… Whose Iftar… Who is conducting the Iftar… What even is Iftar… Not only has it been declared that no Iftar will be held in the temple or the temple auditorium, but it has also been made clear that no one is permitted to conduct such an event. The Kalasha Committee has no authority to organize an Iftar gathering. And so, the comrades’ “Mridangashaileshwari Iftar Feast” has come to a permanent end… No, it was brought to an end by Us !!”
"Running with your Iftar plate… The High Court has arrived."
It is with great joy that we inform all believers that the Iftar gathering, which comrades had planned to hold at the Mridangashaileshwari Temple, has been completely scrapped.
The plan was to organize an Iftar… pic.twitter.com/drDDVclEZs
— Hindu Seva Kendram (@HinduSevaKendra) March 26, 2025
(With Inputs From Marunadanmalayalee)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.