Devaswom boards in Kerala
Encyclopedia
Devaswom is a socio-religious trust with government or society/community nominated members as trustees to manage temples and its assets and ensure smooth functioning of temple as per traditional rituals and customs. This system is normally found in Kerala
, where almost all temples are either managed by Government
controlled Devaswoms as a cluster for temples which falls under its direct administration or formed by private bodies/families.
All temples of Kerala
are managed by Devaswoms. Devaswom means properties of god (Deva means God and Swom mean ownership in Sanskrit
). Thus its a social system, by which all properties of each temple are declared as personal property of presiding deity of each temple and managed through a body of trustees who bear allegiance to the presiding deity.
Brahmaswoms were also challenged, on the grounds that many Nampoothiri families started misappropriating temple monies into personal funds which sometimes grew to rival that of the ruling families, which was considered a sign of arrogance and disrespect. With their great wealth some Nampoothiri families started meddling in politics, helping to decide who would be the next ruler by supporting one of the rival families.
The intense fragmentation of Kerala into small feudal states in 15th and 16th centuries caused Brahmaswoms and Rajaswoms to become more powerful, adding to political turmoils. In this sitution, powerful royal families like the Zamorins, the Cochin royal family, the Venad and others, decided to curb the growing powers of Brahmaswoms and Rajaswoms, through the formation of Devaswoms. These were perceived as neutral bodies, governed by a group of trustees who were elected or nominated by the state, but which could be changed by royal decree.
Samoothiri was one of the first rulers to implement this pratice, by curbing the powers of Malliserri Mana who ruled the Brahmaswom of Guruvayur
. Samoothiri Raja Mana Vikram annexed the temple, declared it to be state property and appointed a body of trustees which included the Chief of Malliseeri Mana as well as other leading local Nampoothiri and Nair families. Many temples in Kozhikode
followed suit.
When the political sovereignty of the Zamorin over Cochin ceased in 1762, the Cochin Maharaja started taking over most of the temples ruled by Nampoothiris and Nairs who had favoured the Zamorin. The immediate impact was the confiscation of properties at Yogaathiri (with Nampoothiri trustees) and Ooraalaars (Nair trustees), and the temples managed by them came under the administration of the state.
The most famous event of this kind was carried out by Sakthan Thampuran
, when he beheaded the chief priest of the Nampoothiri oracle, who refused to accept his sovereignty over the famous Vadakkunnathan Temple
. Most of the temples in the Cochin kingdom were annexed by the royal government during this period, and were handed over to newly-formed Devaswoms which accepted the ruler's sovereignty as well as allegiance to the deity.
The formation of Travancore itself can be attributed to the misuse of powers of the rajaswom of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple by Ettuveetil Pillai, which attempted to overshadow the powers of reigning Venad king and his kingdom. This generated an opportunity to Marthanda Varma
, who finally succeeded in curbing the Ettuveetil Pillai and completing the annexation of the temple, which in turn led to the formation of the Travancore kingdom.
Ever since then, Travancore governments have implemented a policy of slow yet steady annexations of private temples and their assets, and forming Devaswoms for each temple.
Colonel Munroe, the British Resident, appointed in 1812 as Diwan of the Cochin and Travancore kingdoms, was responsible for bringing effective controls on temples. Munroe recommended that all Devaswom properties be treated as government properties and the revenue from Devaswom be merged with the general revenues of the state. In addition, for the purpose of meeting the expenses of the temples, Pathiv (that is, a scale of expenditure on uthsavams, remuneration to temple staff, maintenance charges etc.) was proposed. These recommendations were accepted by the maharajas of Cochin and Travancore. A committee was constituted to study its implications in 1815. During the reign of maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi in Travancore, a royal decree was passed forming a Devaswom Board, and most of the temples in Travancore were brought under its control. A few large temples preferred to remain independent, although they declared their allegiance to the Travancore Devaswom Board and assured it they would follow all of its policies.
In the Cchin kingdom, a special commission was appointed to study the formation of Devaswom boards. After a study of 309 Devaswoms, 179 Devaswoms in Cochin state were classified as Sarkkar Devaswoms. Sixty-one Devaswoms were returned to ooraalaars, and another sixty-one were classified as Vazhipaat Devaswoms. This was a major step by the state government, which resulted in the state's acquisition of temple lands and the power to interfere in temple administration. All 179 of these temples were known as ‘incorporated Devaswoms’ of which 24 were treated as Keezhetams (that is, subordinate to a more important temple). Subsequently, due either to mismanagement by Ooraalaars or under some other pretext, some more temples were taken over by the Sarkkar though their funds were kept separately. Each such Devaswom was called ‘unincorporated Devaswom’. Under the Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1896, the government took over the management of Devaswoms which had been mismanaged. Such institutions were called ‘assumed Devaswoms’. In 1897 a separate Devaswom Department was formed under a superintendent and all incorporated and un-incorporated Devaswoms were brought under its control. Ten years later in 1907 these incorporated and un-incorporated Devaswoms were merged, and by a later amendment in 1916 a common trust fund was constituted as an endowment.
Both in Cochin and Travancore the head of the Department - hitherto known as superintendent - was re-designated as commissioner on 1 November 1926. Consequent on the integration of the princely states of Travancore and Cochin, the administration of Devaswoms in the Cochin State came under the Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB), constituted on 1 August 1949 under the articles of the covenant entered into by the rulers of Cochin and Travancore on 23 June 1949. Both the groups of Devaswoms were brought under the Board, first by an ordinance and later by the Travancore – Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1950. On 16 June 1950 the Board was reconstituted. Apart from those temples governed by the CDB, a large number of private temples (known as Ooraanma temples) exists. Those private temples, which get grants from various state-owned Devaswom Boards are also known as Vazhipaat Devaswoms.
Kerala also have a Devaswom Minister, in charge of all Devaswom related affairs.
.
The Sabarimala
temple, is the largest and most important temple of Travancore Devaswom board. The second largest temple under this board is Chettikulangara Devi temple
at Mavelikkara. The Constitution of the Board was based on the covenant entered in to by the King of Travancore. The current president is Advocate Rajagopalan Nair (nominee of the ruling CPM, selected over Adv Cherunniyor P Sasidharan Nair).
Sabarimala is the main income source of the board, with Rs.50 crore accruing to it from there during the previous pilgrimage season (Nov.2010-Jan.2011). The income from the rest of the temples in Kerala was Rs.57 crore.
.
. The Managing Committee includes the Tantri of the temple and others.
Thanikudam bagavathy Temple thanikudam
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, where almost all temples are either managed by Government
Government of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...
controlled Devaswoms as a cluster for temples which falls under its direct administration or formed by private bodies/families.
All temples of Kerala
Temples of Kerala
The list of the Temples of Kerala, district wise.-Thiruvananthapuram:* Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple* Pazhavangady Maha Ganapati Temple* Sreekanteswaram Shiva Temple* Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Temple* Kurumkalam Bhagavati Temple* Kovilvila Bhagavati Temple...
are managed by Devaswoms. Devaswom means properties of god (Deva means God and Swom mean ownership in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
). Thus its a social system, by which all properties of each temple are declared as personal property of presiding deity of each temple and managed through a body of trustees who bear allegiance to the presiding deity.
History
The system of forming Devaswoms is relatively new, a pratice started in late 17th century. Prior to that, most temples either had Brahmaswoms or Rajaswoms. In the Brahmaswoms system, each temple and all of its assets are considered to be the private property of its chief priest, normally from Brahmin Nampoothiri families. Rajaswoms are where the properties belong to ruling feudal lords or Nair families or even small royal families. This system has created intense corruption as well as political rivalry, especially in case of Rajaswom ruled temples, thus losing sanctity. In many cases during wars, the rival army target the temples, as the opening of the temple gates to a rival army signals the defeat of ruling family.Brahmaswoms were also challenged, on the grounds that many Nampoothiri families started misappropriating temple monies into personal funds which sometimes grew to rival that of the ruling families, which was considered a sign of arrogance and disrespect. With their great wealth some Nampoothiri families started meddling in politics, helping to decide who would be the next ruler by supporting one of the rival families.
The intense fragmentation of Kerala into small feudal states in 15th and 16th centuries caused Brahmaswoms and Rajaswoms to become more powerful, adding to political turmoils. In this sitution, powerful royal families like the Zamorins, the Cochin royal family, the Venad and others, decided to curb the growing powers of Brahmaswoms and Rajaswoms, through the formation of Devaswoms. These were perceived as neutral bodies, governed by a group of trustees who were elected or nominated by the state, but which could be changed by royal decree.
Samoothiri was one of the first rulers to implement this pratice, by curbing the powers of Malliserri Mana who ruled the Brahmaswom of Guruvayur
Guruvayur
Guruvayur is a municipal town in Thrissur District, of Kerala State in India. It houses the famous Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, the fourth biggest temple in India in terms of the number of devotees per day.-History:Guruvayur, according to the legends may be 5,000 years old as the Guruvayur...
. Samoothiri Raja Mana Vikram annexed the temple, declared it to be state property and appointed a body of trustees which included the Chief of Malliseeri Mana as well as other leading local Nampoothiri and Nair families. Many temples in Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
followed suit.
When the political sovereignty of the Zamorin over Cochin ceased in 1762, the Cochin Maharaja started taking over most of the temples ruled by Nampoothiris and Nairs who had favoured the Zamorin. The immediate impact was the confiscation of properties at Yogaathiri (with Nampoothiri trustees) and Ooraalaars (Nair trustees), and the temples managed by them came under the administration of the state.
The most famous event of this kind was carried out by Sakthan Thampuran
Sakthan Thampuran
Rama Varma Kunhjipilla Thampuran , or Rama Varma IX, popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran , was the ruler of Cochin. He was the King of Cochin and his palace was in Thrissur. Thrissur is the cultural capital of Kerala and Sakthan Thampuran is the very architect of Thrissur city. Thrissur Pooram was...
, when he beheaded the chief priest of the Nampoothiri oracle, who refused to accept his sovereignty over the famous Vadakkunnathan Temple
Vadakkunnathan Temple
Vadakkunnathan Temple , also known as Thenkailasam and Vrishabhachalam, is an ancient Shiva temple located at the heart of Thrissur city. This temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of architecture and has formidable gopurams on all four sides and also a Koothambalam. Mural paintings that...
. Most of the temples in the Cochin kingdom were annexed by the royal government during this period, and were handed over to newly-formed Devaswoms which accepted the ruler's sovereignty as well as allegiance to the deity.
The formation of Travancore itself can be attributed to the misuse of powers of the rajaswom of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple by Ettuveetil Pillai, which attempted to overshadow the powers of reigning Venad king and his kingdom. This generated an opportunity to Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
, who finally succeeded in curbing the Ettuveetil Pillai and completing the annexation of the temple, which in turn led to the formation of the Travancore kingdom.
Ever since then, Travancore governments have implemented a policy of slow yet steady annexations of private temples and their assets, and forming Devaswoms for each temple.
Colonel Munroe, the British Resident, appointed in 1812 as Diwan of the Cochin and Travancore kingdoms, was responsible for bringing effective controls on temples. Munroe recommended that all Devaswom properties be treated as government properties and the revenue from Devaswom be merged with the general revenues of the state. In addition, for the purpose of meeting the expenses of the temples, Pathiv (that is, a scale of expenditure on uthsavams, remuneration to temple staff, maintenance charges etc.) was proposed. These recommendations were accepted by the maharajas of Cochin and Travancore. A committee was constituted to study its implications in 1815. During the reign of maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi in Travancore, a royal decree was passed forming a Devaswom Board, and most of the temples in Travancore were brought under its control. A few large temples preferred to remain independent, although they declared their allegiance to the Travancore Devaswom Board and assured it they would follow all of its policies.
In the Cchin kingdom, a special commission was appointed to study the formation of Devaswom boards. After a study of 309 Devaswoms, 179 Devaswoms in Cochin state were classified as Sarkkar Devaswoms. Sixty-one Devaswoms were returned to ooraalaars, and another sixty-one were classified as Vazhipaat Devaswoms. This was a major step by the state government, which resulted in the state's acquisition of temple lands and the power to interfere in temple administration. All 179 of these temples were known as ‘incorporated Devaswoms’ of which 24 were treated as Keezhetams (that is, subordinate to a more important temple). Subsequently, due either to mismanagement by Ooraalaars or under some other pretext, some more temples were taken over by the Sarkkar though their funds were kept separately. Each such Devaswom was called ‘unincorporated Devaswom’. Under the Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1896, the government took over the management of Devaswoms which had been mismanaged. Such institutions were called ‘assumed Devaswoms’. In 1897 a separate Devaswom Department was formed under a superintendent and all incorporated and un-incorporated Devaswoms were brought under its control. Ten years later in 1907 these incorporated and un-incorporated Devaswoms were merged, and by a later amendment in 1916 a common trust fund was constituted as an endowment.
Both in Cochin and Travancore the head of the Department - hitherto known as superintendent - was re-designated as commissioner on 1 November 1926. Consequent on the integration of the princely states of Travancore and Cochin, the administration of Devaswoms in the Cochin State came under the Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB), constituted on 1 August 1949 under the articles of the covenant entered into by the rulers of Cochin and Travancore on 23 June 1949. Both the groups of Devaswoms were brought under the Board, first by an ordinance and later by the Travancore – Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1950. On 16 June 1950 the Board was reconstituted. Apart from those temples governed by the CDB, a large number of private temples (known as Ooraanma temples) exists. Those private temples, which get grants from various state-owned Devaswom Boards are also known as Vazhipaat Devaswoms.
Department
As per Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act-1950, State Government of Kerala is responsible managing all temples of Kerala, except owned by those private families and private boards, listed in official Covenant signed between Travancore Ruler and Indian Government in 1949. However being a secular government, Kerala Government, is not allowed to interfere directly into temple affairs, rather only Government appointed Devaswom officials and board as such are authorized to do so. As a law and convention, all devaswom board members as well as officials also have sworn allegiance to Hindu faith and sworn to prime deity of each Devaswom Board.Kerala also have a Devaswom Minister, in charge of all Devaswom related affairs.
Travancore Devaswom Board
Travancore Devaswom Board is an autonomous body formed as per the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1950. It is one of the oldest Devaswom Board, as a successor to Travancore Royal Devaswom Commission. The headquarters of Travancore Devaswom Board is located at Devaswom Complex in Nanthancode, ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
.
The Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
temple, is the largest and most important temple of Travancore Devaswom board. The second largest temple under this board is Chettikulangara Devi temple
Chettikulangara Devi Temple
Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple is one of the most renowned temples in Kerala. The temple is located at Chettikulangara in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district in the south Indian state of Kerala...
at Mavelikkara. The Constitution of the Board was based on the covenant entered in to by the King of Travancore. The current president is Advocate Rajagopalan Nair (nominee of the ruling CPM, selected over Adv Cherunniyor P Sasidharan Nair).
Sabarimala is the main income source of the board, with Rs.50 crore accruing to it from there during the previous pilgrimage season (Nov.2010-Jan.2011). The income from the rest of the temples in Kerala was Rs.57 crore.
Administration
The Board comprises President and two Members, the President and one Member is nominated by the Hindu members of the Kerala Council of Ministers and the other Member from the Hindu Members of State legislature. The term of the President and Members is for a period of four years. The head quarters of the board is in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Travancore Maharaja will be the patron of all temples owned by Travancore Devaswom BoardMain Temples
- SabarimalaSabarimalaSabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
Sree Ayyappa Temple, Pathanamthitta - Chettikulangara Devi TempleChettikulangara Devi TempleChettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple is one of the most renowned temples in Kerala. The temple is located at Chettikulangara in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district in the south Indian state of Kerala...
, Mavelikkara - Vazhappally Maha Temple, Changanassery
- Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple, Pathanamthitta
- Sree Vallabha Temple, Thiruvalla
- Mahadeva Temple, Chengannur
- Anjaneya Temple, Kaviyoor
- Sreekrishna Temple, Ambalappuzha
- Mahadeva Temple, Kandiyoor, Mavelikkara
- Mahadeva Temple, Eattumanoor
- Sreekrishna Temple, Mavelikkara
- Mahadeva Temple, Vaikom
- Devi Karthiyayani Temple, Cherthala
- Mookambika Devi Temple, North Paravur
- Narasimha Moorthy, SudharshanaMoorthy Mahakshethram, Thuravoor
- Devi Karthiyayani Temple, Aroor,Alapuzha
- Sree Subhramanya Temple, Harippad
- Malayalappuzha Devi Temple, Pathanamthitta
- Thirunakkara Siva Temple, Kottayam
- SreekanteswaramSreekanteswaramSreekanteswaram is a place in the Thiruvananthapuram city , India. The place is known for the Siva temple, from which the name was derived...
Temple, Thiruvananthapuram - Sree Parasurama Swamy Temple, Thiruvallam, Trivandrum
- Mahadevar Temple, Kazhakkuttom, Trivandrum
- Sarkara Devi Temple, Chirayinkil, Trivandrum
- Kodungoor Devi Temple, Kodungoor, Kottayam (Dist)
- Agasthyacode Mahadevar Temple, Agasthyacode, Anchal, Kollam (Dist.)
- Major Puthiydam Sreekrishna Swami Temple, Kayamkulam
- mahagnapathi temple , kottarakara
- major vettikalavala temple vettikavala
- ayyapaswamy temple kulathupuzha
- ayyapaswamy temple ayankavu
- ayyappaswamy temple achankovil
- sastha temple sasthamcotta
- padanayarkullanagara temple karunagapply
- kotttamkullanagara devi temple chavara
- janardhana swamy temple varkala
Colleges
There are four aided colleges all over South Kerala. They are:- D. B. College, Sasthamcotta, Kollam [Quilon] district
- D. B. College, Thalayolaparambu , Kottayam district
- D. B. Pampa College, Parumala, Mannar, Pathanamthitta district
- Sree Ayyappa College, Eramallikkara, Chengannur, Alappuzha District more →Dewaswom Board CollegeThe Travancore Devaswom Board is a semi-government organisation in the erstwhile Travancore, now southern part of the State of Kerala in India, constituted to manage the Hindu Temples in Kerala, with head office at Nandancode in the state capital Thiruvanathapuram [Trivandrum] The famous Sastha...
Guruvayur Devaswom Board
The Guruvayur Devaswom Board was formed for administering the activities of Guruvayur TempleGuruvayur Temple
Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Krishna, located in the town of Guruvayur in Kerala, India. It is one of the most important places of worship for Hindus and is often referred to as "Bhooloka Vaikuntam" which translates to the holy abode of Vishnu on Earth...
.
Administration
Administrative office started functioning since 1997. The day-to-day administration is to be looked after by an Administrator appointed by the Government of KeralaGovernment of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...
. The Managing Committee includes the Tantri of the temple and others.
Main Temples
- Rajarajeshwari Temple, Chottanikkara, Ernakulam
- Shree Poornathrayeesha Temple, Thripoornuthura, Ernakulam
- Shiva Temple, Ernakulam
- Elangunnapuzha Temple, Vypin
- Kodungallur Bhagawathy Temple, Kodungallore
- Pazhayannur Bhagawathy Temple
- Peruvanam, Thrissur
- Arrattupuzha, Thrissur
- Vadakkumanathan Temple, Thrissur
- Sreeramaswamy Temple, Triprayar
- Kanchanapally Ayyappan Temple, Patturaikkal, Trichur
- Sreerama Swamy Temple,Manali,Near Kalyanam Tile Company,Trichur
Thanikudam bagavathy Temple thanikudam