A controversy began when digging on land owned by the Bishop's House in Pala led to the unearthing of idols, including a Shivling.
Published Feb 14, 2025 | 12:21 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 14, 2025 | 6:39 PM
Lamps lighted in front of the structures unearthed from the lang belonging to the Pala Bishop House.
Synopsis: Digging the land owned by Bishop’s House in Pala, for tapioca cultivation, led to unearthing of idols, a stone lamp, and other ancient remnants, including a structure resembling Shivling. The BJP said that neither its state nor its central committee would interfere in the matter. A representative from the Bishop House stated that they are awaiting the temple committee’s final decision after completing their religious protocols.
After the discovery of idols and suspected remains of an ancient temple at a site near the Bishop House of the Syro-Malabar Church in Pala of the Kottayam district in Kerala, the BJP said that neither its state nor its central committee would interfere in the matter.
BJP Kottayam District Secretary Akhil P Raveendran told South First on Friday, 14 February, that the Church authorities and the temple committee are in discussions regarding the matter and a mutual understanding would be reached.
A controversy began last week when digging the land for tapioca cultivation on land owned by the Bishop’s House in Pala led to the unearthing of idols, a stone lamp, and other ancient remnants, including a structure resembling Shivling.
This discovery has fuelled claims that an old temple once stood there. The site is located near the Vellappad Bhagavathy Temple and an idol of Parvathi Devi was among the items that were recovered.
Raveendran said that the BJP leadership had already discussed the matter.
“The BJP central and state leadership discussed the incident and decided not to intervene at any cost. Pala and Ramapuram areas have a strong presence of the RSS, and the devotees visiting the excavation site may include BJP and RSS supporters. However, the temple committee consists of people from all political backgrounds, so this is entirely the temple committee’s decision,” he said.
“The BJP will not interfere. I have also received information from the Pala Bishop House that both parties are still in discussions and will handle the matter thoughtfully,” he added.
A representative from the Pala Bishop House stated that they are awaiting the temple committee’s final decision after completing their religious protocols.
The temple committee, in turn, is waiting for the results of the Devaprashnam — a Hindu astrological ritual for interpreting the will of the gods — and the opinions of religious scholars.
Residents recall ancestral stories about a temple, belonging to an old Brahmin family (Illam), that existed in the area centuries ago. Over time, the land changed hands multiple times before being acquired by the Bishop’s House.
The news has drawn large crowds, with some Hindu devotees gathering at the site to chant hymns.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
