11 (a). Recent Trends of Expiatory Rites

Before 19^th century in Kerala, the Tantric scriptures were written under the authority of the feudal system and royal patronage. After the invasion of colonial forces the temple culture has got agitated. Several invasions and the growth of British power had affected the temple culture of Kerala. Moreover, the political and social reform movements lead by Caṭṭmpi Svāmikal, Narāyaṇaguru, Brahmānanda Śivayogi, Vāgbhaṭānanda, Vaikuṇṭhasvāmi, Ayyaṃkāli were deeply agitating the temple centered Brahmin oligarchy. Narāyaṇaguru has erected several temples in different places of Kerala and installed idols of Śiva, Skanda and Gaṇeśa. He permitted the entry of Pulayas and other ‘lower castes’ into these temples for worshipping and for performing direct Pūjas. Besides, Brahmānanda Śivayogi condemned the caste barriers, penance, pilgrimages and idol worship. Similarly, Vagbhaṭānda denounced caste barriers and idol worship. These strong ideas have gradually shaken the temple centered Brahmin oligarchy and temple expiatory rites. Gradually the social movements for the eradication of untouchability highly affected the temple culture and afterwards, the feudal class is enforced to permit the entry of out castes into the temple. In 1936 Cittira Tirunal Balarama Varma announced the famous temple entry proclamation and it made much impact in the caste based discrimination and in the expiatory rites.^[1]

After the independence, by the second half of the 20^th century, the land reformation activities brought vital change in the temple centered social system and religious culture. It is in this age, most of the peoples having ‘Hindu’ faith could enter the temples in the real sense. At the same time, the temple authorities have also performed expiations for the removal of impurity affected to the temple by the entry of the ‘untouchables.’ Actually the caste based expiations still continue in this period. The influence of astrology and neo liberal market system is also proliferating the temple expiations. The number of expiations is seen increased in this period. The astrologers prescribes Vaḻipāṭu (offerings to temple) as new form of expiation. Vaḻipāṭu as form of expiation is gradually enlarged. Moreover, the pilgrim centered expiation is accentuated. It widened the economic earnings of the temple. In contrast to 19^th century, the cotemporary trend of forming public committees of the natives for the renovation and development of the temple also