Sabarimala Issue - Rahul Easwar to approach court against Devaswom Board

Rahul Eashwar, the grandson of Sabarimala temple thanthri (head priest), said that he will approach the court against the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) alleging that they abused his grandfather. Rahul said that it's not the Devaswom Board but the Thantri has the final word in the religious matters. The Devaswom Board behaved to Thantri without manners, he said.

It is the incidents happened on tuesday that led to such a situation. Tuesday, Rahul Easwar was denied entry into Sreekovil (the sanctum) of Lord Ayyappa temple. He was accompaniying Thantri Kandararu Maheswararu to perform the uchcha pooja at 12.30 pm. The thantri's another grandson Sandeep was also there with them. Rahul was blocked by the Devaswom Board authorities headed by Temple Special officer S Ajith Kumar citing the temple rules don't allow Rahul to enter the Sreekovil.

But later, the issue got tougher when the Thantri came in support of his grandson. He claimed that he holds the right to make decisions in the traditional affairs. But in the other side, the Devaswom executive officer opined that it's the Devaswom that has the administrative power to take the decision on all aspects of the temple. Thantri could decide on only ritual and pooja matters, he said.

The Devaswom claimed that as per the rules of the temple, only the Thantri's son's son is eligible to perform poojas. Rahul is the son of Thantri's daughter Mallika and therefore he is not allowed.

Anyway, the issue has created a battleline between the believers. Many including Yogakshema Sabha and Aikya Malayaraya Sabha support the Thanthri family where many stand with the Devaswom Board.