Devaswom Minister Calls Sabarimala ‘Vajivahanam’ Handover to Tantri Unauthorised
Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan has declared the handover of the sacred ‘Vajivahanam’ to Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru as unauthorised, contradicting a previous High Court decision that had approved the transfer.
Speaking in the Assembly on Wednesday, Vasavan clarified that neither the President nor members of the Devaswom Board are empowered to hand over the artefact to the Tantri for private possession.
The issue has resurfaced amid the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case. The SIT had earlier informed the High Court that the ‘Vajivahanam’ was seized from the Tantri’s residence and raised concerns over irregularities in dismantling the old Kodimaram and erecting a new one.
This claim, however, appears to conflict with a 2017 interim report by Advocate Commissioner ASP Kurup, which stated that the artefact was handed over to the Tantri by the then Devaswom Board president after the Jeevodswam ritual on February 17, 2017. The report had been approved by a Division Bench of Justices Ramachandra Menon and Devan Ramachandran. Any deviation from this earlier ruling could place the court in a contradictory position, legal experts note.
Meanwhile, the SIT has accused Rajeevaru of allowing the unauthorised removal of temple valuables, violating ritual practices, and giving criminal tacit consent in a broader conspiracy. He was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days after his arrest in connection with a second gold theft case involving Dwarapalaka idols.
Vasavan also pointed out that the Devaswom Board President and Secretary at the time did not face legal action over their involvement in the transfer.
The ‘Vajivahanam’ was crafted from ‘panchaloha’, featured a substantial gold coating on its outer surface, and weighed approximately 10.68 kg
The case underscores ongoing tensions between traditional temple practices, administrative authority, and legal oversight at Sabarimala, one of India’s most revered shrines.