T’puram: BJP state vice-president K S Radhakrishnan said Thazhamon family should relinquish the title of Sabarimala tanthri. He added that if the family refuses to do so, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) must step in and strip the family of that role. His demand came after tanthri Kandararu Rajeevaru, one of the accused in Sabarimala gold heist case, nominated his son Brahmadathan to the post. However, BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar rejected it as the personal views of Radhakrishnan“Thazhamon family should give up Sabarimala tanthri post. No other family has caused such humiliation and anguish to Sabarimala temple and countless Ayyappa devotees. Even Maniti group, which violated customs at Sabarimala and allegedly brought impurity, did not stain Sabarimala as much as the tanthri family did. What Maniti group did can be cleansed via remedial rituals,” he said.“Police arrested former tanthri Mohanaru from a brothel. He went to jail and faced trial in a criminal case. The tanthri of Sabarimala, where Dharma Sastha is enshrined in the spirit of strict celibacy, was arrested from a brothel. Mohanaru’s brother Rajeevaru is an accused in two cases related to the gold heist carried out using forged documents. The claim is that the tanthri holds paternal status of the deity. If so, Rajeevaru would earn the disgraceful label of a father who abetted the killing of his own son. Is there a remedy for this?” he asked.“While Mohanaru was in jail, he wanted his son Mahesh to be made tanthri. Tanthris are appointed by the temple owner and TDB, the owner of Sabarimala temple, accepted his wish. Mohanaru’s son Mahesh became tanthri. Since Rajeevaru is facing trial in the gold heist case, he submitted a letter to make his son the tanthri. Is Sabarimala tanthri post meant to be set aside for the children of those embroiled in criminal cases and the ones standing trial?” he asked.Chandrasekhar said his party does not subscribe to Radhakrishnan’s views. “Who should be given the tantric responsibility at Sabarimala temple is not a political issue and BJP has limitations in commenting on that. If anyone associated with BJP gave a public reaction on this matter, it is only their personal view. We will resist the actions of UDF govt that is protecting corrupt LDF politicians and defeat it democratically with our community of believers. BJP always stood at the forefront alongside believers to protect customs and rituals,” he said, adding that LDF govt sent the tanthri without administrative responsibility to jail.Sabarimala Karma Samiti general convener SJR Kumar disagreed with Radhakrishnan and said Thazhamon family’s right to the tanthri title was recognised by law. “On earlier occasions, HC declined attempts to challenge or extinguish the hereditary tantric rights of the family, thereby reaffirming the importance of preserving the temple’s established customs and traditions,” he said.Traditionally, the responsibility rotates between the two branches of Thazhamon family and the senior member nominates the successor in accordance with established customs, he said, adding that TDB is the formal appointing authority but it doesn’t have the power to appoint anybody of its choice.
