Sabarimala’s Thazhamon family came from Andhra

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Thazhamon family, which has the final authority in ritual matters at the Sabarimala temple, traces its origins to Andhra Pradesh. According to legend, Parashurama brought two Brahmin brothers from the banks of the Krishna River in Andhra to Kerala to perform tantric rituals at the temples he established.

To test their abilities, Parashurama is believed to have caused a flood in the Krishna River. One brother crossed the river by walking over the water, while the other used his spiritual powers to part the water with his hands and walk along the riverbed. The lineage of the Brahmin who walked beneath the water later came to be known as the Thazhamon Tantris, while the descendants of the one who walked over the water became the Tharananalloor Tantris. It is also said that the Pandalam king brought the Thazhamon Tantris from Andhra to perform the tantric duties at Sabarimala.

After the Sabarimala temple was destroyed in a fire, the Ayyappa idol was consecrated in 1084 by Kandararu Prabhakararu. When the temple again caught fire in 1950, the idol was damaged. A new panchaloha idol, which is seen today, was consecrated by the tantri of that time.

Barred Tantri Kandararu Shankararu, the younger brother of Kandararu Maheswararu’s father, had no male heirs, and his tantric lineage came to an end. Later, brothers Kandararu Maheswararu and Kandararu Krishnaru became tantris. Maheswararu’s son, Kandararu Mohanaru, was entrusted with the tantric duties at Sabarimala, but after he became involved in controversies, the Devaswom Board barred him from performing tantric duties at the temple.

After this, Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru, son of Kandararu Mohanaru, assisted Maheswararu. Following Maheswararu’s death, Kandararu Mohanaru currently holds the tantric responsibility at Sabarimala.

Kandararu Rajeevaru is the son of Kandararu Krishnaru, and his son is Kandararu Brahmadathan. Along with Rajeevaru, Brahmadathan also performs tantric duties at Sabarimala. The tantric responsibilities at Sabarimala are shared alternately by the two families, with each family serving for one year at a time from Chingam to Karkidakam.

Together, the two families perform tantric rituals in thousands of temples across 15 countries. In temples under the control of the Thazhamon Tantris, the flagstaff (dwaja sthambham) is positioned facing the north.