In the wake of the imminent Pran Pratishta ceremony in Rama Mandir, Ayodhya, on January 22, 2024, legendary Sree Padmabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthauram, gifted traditional ‘Onamvillu’ (Bow of Onam season) to Ram Lalla. Usually, Onavillu is a special gift offered to Onathappan, the deity of Onam celebrations. It is removed from the pookkalam (flower carpet on the courtyard) on the third day of Onam.
Now, Onavillu is gifted prior to the consecration of the murti of Ram Lalla on January 22. It is considered to be a three hundred years old tradition in Padmanabha Swamy Mandir, Thiruvananthapuram, the richest Hindu worship centre. The total value of the treasure inside the temple is said to be Rs 1 lakh crore. It includes gold, precious stones, silver, costly vessels, etc.
A senior executive officer of Ram Mandir has reportedly confirmed the receipt of Onavillu. It was taken to Ayodhya by air.
The tradition of Onavillu is three centuries old. It carries the miniatures of Anathasayanam, the presiding deity in the temple, (Vishnu resting on Ananthan, the great divine serpent, which floats in the sea of milk), Dasavataram (ten avatars of Mahavishnu), Sree Rama Pattabhishekam, and Sree Krishna Leela. All are painted using natural colours. Good looking and small bow is considered sacred in Dakshin Bharat. It is prepared with 41 days hard work and strict vrita (penance).
Padmanabha Mandir is referred to in epics and Puranas. Sreemad Bhagavad says that Balaram had visited the temple, had bath in Padmatheertha (temple pond) and executed several offerings. Now Onavillu can be considered as the gift from the southern tip of the country. It is the symbol for North-South connect.
But this sort of symbolic representation of nationalist emotions is not lucky enough to find deserving place in our history. Because the media in the state is influenced by pro-left and pseudo-secularist sentiments,. Therefore, even the austere style of PM Narendra Modiji with respect to his accommodation during his Kerala visit on January 17 and 18, did not get due media coverage despite being rare.
Reports from the Government Guest House, Kochi, speak out the PM’s daily routine in the wake of the vrat he follows prior to the consecration of Ram Mandir. Despite having luxurious cot and mattress in the Guest House suite, PM slept on a bed sheet spread on the yoga mat on the floor. Tender coconut water and fruits were his drinks and bites. He did not touch the dishes of Kerala or Uthar Bharat. He took with him twenty tender coconuts from the vendor near the Siva Temple, Ernakulam. Even otherwise, It is reported that PM does not like very soft beds.
Now, there are allegations that the Information & Public Relations Department removed this Guest House report from its website some time after uploading it. The idea was clear. Both ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) always join hands to oppose BJP, read RSS, read Hindutwa and belittle it.
