Hyderabad: In a remarkable and unprecedented event, a cow accompanied by Balakrishna Guruswamy has completed an extraordinary 169-day pilgrimage from Kashmir to Sabarimala, dedicated to the cause of protecting indigenous cattle breeds. This unique journey has etched its place in global history as the first-ever cow to embark on such an extensive foot journey.
On their arrival at Pamba, en route to the Sabarimala temple, authorities initially halted the cow from proceeding further. The Travancore Devaswom Board officials insisted that permission documentation was mandatory for the cow’s ascent to the sacred site. This led to a prolonged standoff between Ayyappa devotees and the police, with devotees strongly advocating for the cow’s right to complete its spiritual journey.
Supporters revealed that the cow had donned an Ayyappa mala and began its pilgrimage from Basheerbagh Ammavari Temple on December 22, carrying an irumudi on its head. Balakrishna Guruswamy, along with numerous Ayyappa devotees, argued that the cow must be allowed to proceed, emphasizing its spiritual significance and the symbolism of the journey.
Balakrishna Guruswamy disclosed that efforts to obtain permission had been initiated a month earlier when their representative visited Thiruvananthapuram to seek approval from the Travancore Devaswom Board. Despite their repeated requests, a conclusive response was not provided until the final moment. Eventually, the board granted permission, marking the historic moment when the cow successfully ascended the Sabarimala hills with an irumudi, a first-of-its-kind achievement.
Expressing his joy, Balakrishna Guruswamy stated that the journey underscored the importance of protecting indigenous cows. He emphasized that traditional Ayyappa rituals like irumudi preparation, sacred ash application, and temple offerings heavily rely on cow products such as ghee, milk, and curd from native cattle breeds. Guruswamy called upon all Ayyappa devotees to support the preservation of these cattle to sustain these spiritual practices.
Looking ahead, Guruswamy announced that their journey would conclude on March 27 at Kanyakumari’s Vivekananda Kendra Auditorium, where a grand gathering is planned to mark the successful completion of this extraordinary pilgrimage.
