A Changing of the Guard at Sabarimala
At the revered Sabarimala hill shrine, a significant transition is underway within the priestly hierarchy. Senior tanthris from the historic Thazhamon Madom have been compelled to step back from their ritual duties following various controversies. This has paved the way for the next generation to shoulder the sacred responsibilities of conducting tantric rituals at the temple. This pivotal shift coincides with the high-profile arrest of Kandararu Rajeevaru by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) just before the Makaravilakku festival on January 14, in connection with a gold heist case.
The New Ritual Order and Family Legacy
Members of the Chengannur-based Thazhamon Madom's tanthri families are now performing the essential rites at Sabarimala on a rotational basis. The tanthri, who holds the ultimate authority over all key ceremonies, is assisted by the melsanthi. Presently, the tantric rights are vested with the families of Kandararu Rajeevaru and Kandararu Mohanaru. Rajeevaru is the son of former tanthri Kandararu Krishnaru, while Mohanaru is the son of Kandararu Maheshwararu.
The family of Kandararu Neelakandaru, brother to Maheshwararu and Krishnaru, lost its tantric rights due to the absence of male heirs. The current arrangement sees Rajeevaru and Mahesh Mohanaru (son of Kandararu Mohanaru) in charge as the acting tanthris, with Mahesh Mohanaru leading the duties for this season.
A History of Scandals and Succession
The path to this new order has been marked by turmoil. Kandararu Mohanaru was previously removed from his duties at Sabarimala after a major scandal in 2006. The prosecution in that case argued that 11 individuals conspired to bring Mohanaru to an apartment in Kochi on July 23, 2006, where they threatened him at gunpoint to surrender his gold ornaments and blackmailed him by forcing him to pose with a naked woman. Following this incident, the Travancore Devaswom Board formally requested Thazhamon Madom to relieve him of his temple duties.
After Mohanaru's removal, his retired father, Maheshwararu, resumed the tantric rituals. Upon Maheshwararu's death, the duties passed to his grandson, Mahesh Mohanaru. Similarly, Rajeevaru took over after his father Krishnaru's death. Originally, a tanthri's tenure lasted three years, but with Neelakandaru having no sons, the families of Rajeevaru and Mohanaru began alternating duties yearly.
Rajeevaru, a former government agricultural officer, took voluntary retirement several years ago to devote himself fully to his priestly role. His son, Kandararu Brahmadathan, completed his tantric studies and assisted his father last year, performing the duties independently for the first time in the 2024-25 season.
The Enduring Legacy of Thazhamon Madom
Despite the recent challenges, the legacy of Thazhamon Madom remains deeply entrenched. The Madom holds the tantric rights at numerous famous Ayyappa temples within and outside Kerala, with these rights traditionally maintained through male descendants. A landmark moment in this legacy was on November 18, 1985, when Kandararu Maheshwararu consecrated the 18 holy steps at Sabarimala. He also led the Kumbhabhishekam ceremonies in 1999 after businessman Vijay Mallya donated gold for the temple's sanctum sanctorum.
Today, while Kandararu Mohanaru remains the senior tanthri in title, he is not involved in the active rituals at Sabarimala. The shrine's spiritual proceedings now rest firmly in the hands of a younger generation, navigating both their sacred inheritance and the shadows of past controversies.
