Thazhamon Family Should Be Removed from the Sabarimala Thantri Position Says BJP Vice President K.S. Radhakrishnan
Kochi: BJP leader K.S. Radhakrishnan has demanded that the Thazhamon Thantri family step down from the position of Sabarimala Thantri, alleging that the family has brought unprecedented disgrace and anguish to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple and millions of devotees.
Radhakrishnan said that even the Women group (Manithi) activists, who were accused of violating temple customs during the Sabarimala protests, had not caused as much "defilement" to the temple as the Thantri family. He claimed that the ritual impurity caused by the Manithi activists could be remedied through prescribed purification rituals, but the actions of the Thantri family had inflicted far greater damage.
Referring to former Thantri Mohanaru, he alleged that Mohanaru was arrested by the police from a brothel and was later jailed while facing criminal proceedings. He said it was the Thantri of Sabarimala—where Lord Ayyappa is worshipped as a Naishtika Brahmachari (eternal celibate)—who had been arrested under such circumstances, Radhakrishnan said.
He further alleged that Mohanaru's brother, Rajeevaru, is an accused in two gold theft cases involving forged documents. Radhakrishnan questioned the family's claim that the Thantri holds the position of a father to the presiding deity, saying that if so, Rajeevaru would also carry the stigma of "a father who abetted the killing of his own son," and asked what atonement could possibly exist for such an act.
Radhakrishnan pointed out that when Mohanaru was imprisoned, he requested that his son Maheshwararu be appointed as Thantri. The Travancore Devaswom Board, which administers the Sabarimala temple and has the authority to appoint Thantris, accepted the request, resulting in Maheshwararu's appointment.
He said Rajeevaru, who is currently facing trial in the alleged gold theft case, has now written to the Devaswom Board seeking the appointment of his son Brahmadattan as Thantri. Radhakrishnan questioned whether the post of Sabarimala Thantri had become a position reserved for the children of individuals facing criminal prosecution.
The BJP leader further asserted that temple owners have the legal authority to remove Thantris from office and said court rulings have affirmed that appointment and removal of Thantris must be carried out in accordance with the Constitution, applicable laws, and regulations.
Citing a Karnataka High Court judgment, he said only a legally eligible member of the traditional Thantri family can be appointed as Thantri. However, he claimed that individuals lacking even basic knowledge of Vedic rituals, including the Gayatri Mantra and the mantras used for Ganapathi Homam, had previously been appointed as Sabarimala Thantris. He also referred to observations made by Justice Paripoornan, who had reportedly studied the issue in detail.
Radhakrishnan said it is the responsibility of the Travancore Devaswom Board, as the appointing authority, to ensure that Sabarimala Thantris possess adequate knowledge and training in Tantric rituals. If the Board has the power to appoint Thantris, it also has the authority to remove them, he argued.
He concluded that it is unreasonable to suggest that members of the Thantri family should remain in office regardless of their conduct. The Devaswom Board, he said, is under no obligation to appoint anyone recommended by persons facing criminal cases solely on the basis of hereditary succession, without considering their qualifications.