KERALA, INDIA, October 2, 2016 (The Hindu): The Travancore Devaswom Board has started preparations for the medicated oil treatment of the teak wood brought from the Konni forests for replacing the old temple flag mast (kodimaram) at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple . The carpentry work on the teak wood has been completed under the leadership of master craftsmen Ananthan Achary and Palani Achary at a specially prepared enclosure at the Anjaneya Auditorium at Pampa in the foothills of Sabarimala.
The medical oil is being prepared with 35 herbs, and the teak wood will be kept immersed in a large vessel filled with the oil for six months as part of the curing process. The TDB has decided to replace the old flag mast with a new one on the basis of the recommendations made by Vasthu experts and the astrological consultation conducted at Sabarimala. The experts found the mast decayed.
The installation of the new mast will be held in the auspicious muhurtham between 11:50 a.m. and 1:40 p.m. on June 25, 2017. According to TDB sources, it requires not less than 286 lbs. of gold for covering the wooden mast with gold plates.