A Tantri's Son Should Not Automatically Become Tantri; Qualifications Must Be Checked: Hindu Aikya Vedi
Kochi: Hindu Aikya Vedi has said that the son of a Tantri should not automatically become the next Tantri. The organisation said the qualifications of the person chosen for the post must be checked carefully, and it is the responsibility of the Travancore Devaswom Board to do so.
Hindu Aikya Vedi leader R.V. Babu said the controversy over the Sabarimala Tantri appointment should be ended as soon as possible. He said nothing should happen at Sabarimala that could hurt the faith of millions of devotees.
Babu said only people who have proper knowledge and training in Tantric rituals should be appointed as Tantris in temples. He added that many devotees believe the Devaswom Board should appoint Kandararu Brahmadathan as the Sabarimala Tantri only after confirming that he has the required training and qualifications in Tantric practices.
The issue comes after BJP state vice-president K.S. Radhakrishnan demanded that the Thazhamon family be removed from the post of Sabarimala Tantri. He said the family should step down, claiming that no other family had caused so much pain and disappointment to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple and its millions of devotees.
Reacting to the remarks, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said Radhakrishnan's comments were his personal opinion and not the official stand of the BJP.