Only Pisharody community allowed to mow lawns; More details from Koodalmanikyam temple

KOCHI: The root cause of all troubles alerting the Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple may be the handiwork of the six vedic heads or the tantris. It is reported that the tantri’s won’t even budge when it comes to allowing people from lower caste to mow lawns around the temple pond. This job is specifically reserved for the higher caste Pisharody community. Apart from tantris, only priests and the Ambalavasi community are allowed access to the pond.

Three years ago, after the pond was cleaned, the tantrics continued to use it only after performing purification rituals. The Devaswom Commissioner, Administrator, Managing Committee and Chairman, who are IAS officers appointed on government deputation, have little say in matters related to the temple. If the committee's decision is not acceptable to the Tantri representative, all six vedic heads should discuss it and reach a final decision.

If there is a need to deliver a letter or collect signatures, Devaswom employees are forced to reach the residences of Tantris in pure subservience. As there are six tantris in the temple, decisions related to the temple often hit a roadblock following differences within the tantric clan.

Tharananellur family, which wrests control over rituals in the Thiruvananthapuram Padmanabhaswamy Temple, is given responsibility in the Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple. There are two Tantris in temples like Chottanikkara and Oorakam. There is no obstacle for the devaswom in removing five tantri’s off duty at Koodalmanikyam temple following the controversy.

The workers are often made to carry essentials on their heads over 100m distances within the temple. Considering the laborious task involved, many were willing to offer an electric buggy car, but the tantris cut short the move, citing the rubber tyres inside the temple as sacrilege. The incident happened during the previous administration. The employees who carried the goods are now delivering them in a one-wheeled cart, blindfolded.