High Court Approves Devaswom Board Decision to Appoint Kandararu Brahmadattan as Sabarimala Head Priest
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has approved the Travancore Devaswom Board's decision to appoint Kandararu Brahmadattan as the Head Priest of Sabarimala.
The Devaswom Board informed the High Court that an expert committee had found Brahmadattan fully qualified for the post of Head Priest. Following the court's approval, he will officially assume charge as the Sabarimala Head Priest on Chingam 1 (August 16).
The committee of senior Thantris constituted by the Devaswom Board stated that there was no objection in appointing Brahmadattan, the son of Kandararu Rajeevaru, as the new Head Priest.
The expert committee comprised Akkiraman Kalidasa Bhattathirippad, Tharayil Kuzhikkattu Agnisharman Vasudevan Bhattathiri, and Kadiyakkol Subrahmanyan Namboothiri.
According to the committee, Brahmadattan has completed his studies at the Thantra Vidyapeetham and has gained practical experience by serving as an assistant to his father, Kandararu Rajeevaru, at Sabarimala, demonstrating his competence in temple rituals and traditions.
Earlier, Kandararu Rajeevaru had written to the Travancore Devaswom Board requesting that he be relieved of his duties as Thantri due to health issues and that his son, Brahmadattan, be appointed in his place. The request was submitted after Rajeevaru was named as an accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case.