Travancore Devaswom Board

Last updated
Travancore Devaswom Board
Formation1950;73 years ago (1950)
TypeAutonomous Body
PurposeManagement of 1251 temples including Sabarimala
Headquarters Thiruvananthapuram
Location
  • Nanthancode, Kawdiar Post, Thiruvananthapuram 695003, Kerala
    (EPABX Nos.: 0471-2317983 / 2316963 / 2310921 / 2723240
    FAX: 0471-2310192)
Region
Kerala
President
P S Prasanth
Member 1
Adv. A Ajikumar
Member 2
K sundaresan
Devaswom Secretary
G Baiju
Website travancoredevaswomboard.org

Travancore Devaswom Board is statutory and autonomous body managing around 1252 temples in southern part of India. The regular operations of one of the major temples of India, Sabarimala temple, works under its guidance.

Contents

History and Administration

Travancore Devaswom Board is the administrative body created for managing around 1200 temples in South India. [1] The management of one of the famous temples, Sabarimala, is under it. [2]

Roles and Responsibilities

Travancore Devaswom Board is formed with below purpose [3] [4] [2] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Composition

Travancore Devaswom Board is headed by P S Prasanth. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabarimala Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

The Sabarimala Sree Ayyappan Temple is a Hindu temple that is devoted to the worship of a deity named Ayyappan, also known as Dharma Shasta. Ayyappan is believed to be the son of Shiva and Mohini. The temple is situated atop a hill in the village of Ranni-Perunad, within the Ranni Taluk of the Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India. The temple is surrounded by 18 hills in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimage sites in the world, with an estimate of over 10 to 15 million devotees visiting every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makara Jyothi</span> Star appearing at Sabarimala Temple

Makara Jyothi is a star worshiped by pilgrims at Sabarimala Temple in Kerala on Makara Sankranti every year. It is believed that the deity Ayyappan asserts himself as Makara Jyothi to bless his devotees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makaravilakku</span> Indian holy festival

Makaravilakku is an annual festival held on Makara Sankranti in Kerala, India at the shrine of Sabarimala. The festival includes the Thiruvabharanam procession and a congregation at the hill shrine of Sabarimala. An estimated half a million devotees flow to Sabarimala every year to have a darshan (vision) of this ritual this day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aryankavu</span> Village in Kerala, India

Aryankavu is a village located in the Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala. It lies close to the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu near Thenmala. It is also one of the famous pilgrimage sites associated with the legend of Sabarimala. The village is located beside Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary.

Harivarasanam (ഹരിവരാസനം) is a Manipravalam ashtakam sung as a lullaby for Lord Ayyappan at the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, situated in Kerala, India. The song became popular through the first stanza in the Keerthanam known as Hariharatmajashtakam (ഹരിഹരാത്മജാഷ്ട്ടകം).

The Travancore Devaswom Board is a semi-government organisation in the erstwhile Travancore, now southern part of the State of Kerala in India, constituted to manage the Hindu Temples in Kerala, with head office at Nandancode in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram [Trivendrum]. The famous Sastha temple at Sabarimala [a pilgrim centre situated in the western ghats], in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State, is also under the management of this organisation.

Devaswom are socio-religious trusts in India, whose members are nominated by the government and community. They oversee Hindu temples and their assets to ensure their smooth operation in accordance with traditional rituals and customs. The devaswom system notably exists in the state of Kerala, where most temples are either managed by Government of Kerala-controlled devaswoms or private bodies or families. The properties of each temple are deemed to be the personal property of the presiding deity of the temple, and are managed through a body of trustees who bear allegiance to that deity.

Guruvayur Devaswom is a Statutory and Independent body created for the governing and management of 12 temples in Kerala assigned to it. With the passing of Madras Regulation Act in the year 1817, temples were brought under the control of East India Company,a corporate organisation. The concept of temple included its premises and wealth. However, from 1925, temples were brought under government control with the passing of State Religious and Charitable Endowments Act. Under this Act, the state governments exercised power for the formation of Temple Development Boards for major temples with the members from local city.

Vettikkavala is a village located in the Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India. One point of interest within the village is a Shiva-Vishnu temple which hosts a special deity called Vathukkal Njali Kunju. An annual celebration of Pongala is held at the temple. The village is also well known for temple arts and a palace constructed by Sree Moolam Thirunal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rahul Easwar</span> Indian activist, public policy commentator

Rahul Easwar is an Indian public policy commentator and activist from Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nilakkal</span> Pilgrimage centre in Kerala, India

Nilakkal, also spelled Nilackal, is an important base camp of Sabarimala pilgrims located in Ranni tehsil of Pathanamthitta district in the Indian state of Kerala. Sabarimala temple is located at a distance of 23 km (14 mi) from Nilakkal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shasta, located in Kulathupuzha in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is one of the five important Sastha temples in Kerala, the others being Aryankavu, Achankovil, Sabarimala and Kanthamala. The idol there is believed to have been installed by Parashurama and is made up of eight pieces of stone. The temple is known for the Meenoottu offering. The temple is governed by the Travancore Devaswom Board.

The Ready To Wait campaign is a social movement initiated in September 2016 by a group of female devotees of Hindu deity Ayyappan, as a response to a petition filed in the Supreme Court by women's groups to demand the right to enter the Sabarimala temple, located in the southern Indian state of Kerala, which traditionally restricts entry of women of reproductive age. The campaigners of "Ready To Wait" asserted their willingness to respect the traditions regarding entry to the Sabarimala temple. It started as a social media campaign with the hashtag #ReadyToWait and soon gained momentum as Hindu women from all over the country took to social media to show their support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandalam dynasty</span> Early dynasty in Kerala

Pandalam dynasty a royal dynasty emerged from a branch of Pandya kingdom. which existed in Kerala during the Kollam era. They came to Kerala fearing the assault of the Nayaks of Madurai. In Kerala they were given land and status by Kaipuzha Thampan of Nilambur Kovilakam a landlord who lived in Amanthur Palace at Kaipuzha from Kottayam Kerala. Today Pandalam is part of Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achankovil Sastha Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

The Achankovil Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple located near the banks of the Achankovil River in the Kollam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the five important temples dedicated to Shasta in Kerala, the others being Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu, Sabarimala and Kanthamala. The idol in the temple is believed to have been consecrated by Parashurama. The temple is known for curing poisonous snakebites. The Travancore Devaswom Board administers the temple.

Pathinettampadi are the 18 divine steps to the 'Thirumuttam' of famed Sabarimala temple in Kerala state of India. These steps have a length of 5 feet, width of 9 inches and height of 9 inches. Earlier, these steps were made out of granite and later in 1985, it was covered by 'Panchaloha', a composition of five metals such as gold, silver, copper, iron and tin. One who undertakes Sabarimala pilgrimage must mark his foots over these steps by carrying an 'irumudikettu' and undergoing a vratam (penance) of 41 days. The pilgrims who climbed the Pathinettampadi for 18 times needs to plant a young coconut tree at Sannidhanam and thereby becomes a 'Guruswami'. In the past, devotees used to break coconuts on these steps which was later restricted and replaced.

Malabar Devaswom Board is a statutory and Independent body created for the governing and management of nearly 1340 temples in South Malabar and North Malabar assigned to it. The board came into existence in its present form on 2nd October 2008 following the Madras H.R & C.E (Amendment) Act, 2008 by Kerala Legislative Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entry of women to Sabarimala</span> Dispute involving a temple in Kerala, India

Sabarimala is a temple dedicated to Shasta, in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. Women and girls of reproductive age have traditionally not been permitted to worship there, as Shasta is a celibate deity. The Kerala high court provided a legal justification for this tradition, and since 1991 onwards, women and girls were legally forbidden to enter the temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. G. Mohandas</span> Indian writer social critic

T. G. Mohandas is an Indian lawyer, social critic, writer, journalist and television presenter from Kerala. Mohandas was the state convener of Bharatiya Janata Party's Intellectual Cell and the General Secretary in 1997 of Bharateeya Vichara Kendram and its vice-president in 2006 and served also as General Manager of Ayodhya Printers, a company owned by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Harivarasanam Award is an award jointly instituted by the Government of Kerala and Travancore Devaswom Board. It is awarded for contributions towards propagation of secularism, equanimity and universal brotherhood of Sabarimala through music. It is being awarded since 2012. Each year, Harivarasanam Award is announced ahead of Makaravilakku festival in Sabarimala. The award consists of cash prize of 1 lakh, citations and plaque. The award was named after Harivarasanam.

References

  1. "Temples to remain shut during lockdown in Kerala". The Economic Times. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Sabarimala virtual queue will be taken over by Devaswom Board". English.Mathrubhumi. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  3. "Travancore Devaswom Board to renovate assets at Varanasi". The Hindu. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  4. Hiran, U. (23 June 2022). "Travancore Devaswom Board gears up to retrieve lost properties". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  5. "Parading of elephants: HC directs to follow rules issued by Travancore Devaswom Board". English.Mathrubhumi. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  6. Saikiran, KP (22 March 2022). "Tdb Seeks Govt Land For Afforestation | Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  7. "Report flags quality of pooja items, finance of temples under TDB". English.Mathrubhumi. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  8. "Temples can hold 'Annadhanam', distribute 'Prasadam'". English.Mathrubhumi. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  9. "Reports of 'Halal Jaggery' in Sabarimala Prasadam Baseless, Travancore Devaswom Board Tells Kerala HC". News18. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  10. "K Ananthagopan is new president of Travancore Devaswom Board". The New Indian Express. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2022.