Koodalmanikyam temple crisis: Ritual boycott leads to exclusion of five tantri families

KOCHI: The Devaswom Board has decided to sideline the five tantris (chief priests) who boycotted the Koodalmanikyam Temple rituals in Irinjalakuda following the appointment of an Ezhava community member as a kazhakam (temple service staff) worker. As a first step, they have been removed from all tantric duties for the upcoming temple festival, which begins on April 28. The full responsibility for the festival rituals has been entrusted to the Veluthedathu Tharananellur family, the most prominent among the six tantri families.

In March of last year, these priests sent a letter to the Devaswom board stating that if an Ezhava community member—appointed via the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board—performed the kazhakam duties, the temple rituals, including the Pratishtha (consecration) day ceremonies, would become void and meaningless; therefore, they refused to perform them. Padmanabhan Namboodiri, the head of the Veluthedathu Tharananellur tantri family, refused to sign this letter. The others have been boycotting the temple rituals since then. For the past year, Aniprakash of the Veluthedathu Tharananellur family has been the one performing the tantric rituals.

The hereditary tantri (chief priest) position of the ancient Koodalmanikyam Bharata Temple belonged to the Veluthedathu Tharananellur Mana. As the lineage split over time, the tantri status was extended to the Nedumpilli, Kidangassery, and Chempappally families. During the era of monarchy, the Animangalam and Nagaramannu families were also appointed. These families share the duties, with each assigned two months per year, and special ceremonies are distributed accordingly. Disputes regarding seniority and succession among these families have been a persistent headache for the Devaswom Board.

Sidelined Tantris

1. Nedumpilli Tharananellur Satheesan Namboodiripad
2. Kidangassery Tharananellur Raman Namboodiripad
3. Chempappally Tharananellur Narayanan Namboodiripad
4. Animangalam Vasudevan Namboodiri
5. Nagaramannu Trivikraman Namboodiri

The five priests and their representatives failed to attend the meeting convened to discuss the festival. Attendance by these priests at the festival ceremonies is considered unlikely. Any necessary actions to be taken in the event of their appearance will be decided at that time, says Adv. C.K. Gopi, President of the Koodalmanikyam Devaswom.