In a significant development concerning the revered Sabarimala temple, the SNDP Vaidika Yogam state committee has issued a strong demand for the immediate removal of members from the Thazhamon family from the position of tanthri. This call to action follows their alleged involvement in the high-profile Sabarimala gold robbery case.
A Heartbreaking Betrayal for Devotees
The organizational secretary in-charge of the Yogam, Soumithran Tanthri, expressed deep anguish over the situation. He stated that the involvement of tanthris Kandararu Mohanaru and Kandararu Rajeevaru in the gold scandal is a profoundly heartbreaking incident for the millions of devotees of Lord Ayyappa. He further emphasized that the actions of the tanthri family members are shameful to the broader Hindu community itself.
Soumithran Tanthri was unequivocal in his assessment, declaring that the Thazhamon family is no longer morally qualified to continue in their sacred role as the tanthris of Sabarimala. He presented a stark ultimatum, suggesting that if the family does not step aside voluntarily, the governing body must take decisive action.
Call for Action and Historical Context
The Yogam has directly called upon the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to be prepared to replace the current priests and appoint a new tanthri. The demand was formalized through a resolution passed during a crucial meeting of the Yogam held in Ernakulam on Friday.
Adding a historical dimension to their argument, Soumithran Tanthri claimed that the Thazhamon family had originally taken control of the temple forcibly, displacing the native tribal communities who were performing the rituals. To modernize the temple's priestly structure, the Yogam proposed a model followed by other ancient temples.
The resolution explicitly stated that there is no ritual prohibition against excluding the Thazhamon family from the tanthri post. This clears a potential theological hurdle for their removal.
Proposal for a New Priestly System
Moving beyond just removal, the SNDP Vaidika Yogam has put forward a constructive proposal for systemic reform at Sabarimala. They pointed out that several historic temples function successfully with a panel of six tanthris.
In a progressive suggestion, the Yogam recommended that six or seven qualified tanthris should be appointed to serve at Sabarimala. Crucially, they advocated that these appointments should be made based on merit and qualification, completely irrespective of caste considerations. This proposal aims to decentralize the authority and ensure greater accountability in the temple's management.
The ongoing controversy places immense pressure on the Travancore Devaswom Board to address the allegations of misconduct, restore devotee confidence, and potentially implement reforms in the appointment of priests at one of India's most prominent pilgrimage sites.
