Thiruvananthapuram: Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan has launched a scathing attack on Kerala’s temple administration system, particularly the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), over alleged mismanagement and corruption.
In an editorial published in Yoganadam, the official mouthpiece of the SNDP, Natesan questioned whether Devaswom Boards have become a “curse” for temples, citing the recent controversy involving the unauthorized repair of gold-plated panels from the Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala temple.
Calling the move “deeply painful for Ayyappa devotees,” Natesan criticised the TDB for sending the panels to Chennai without informing the High Court, and pointed to alleged financial irregularities and the involvement of middlemen as evidence of a “rotting system.”
He accused Kerala‘s five Devaswom Boards — Travancore, Cochin, Malabar, Guruvayur, and Koodalmanikyam — of functioning under political influence, despite being labeled as autonomous bodies.
“Their autonomy is a myth. Board members are appointed by the government based on political considerations, not merit,” he alleged.
Natesan further highlighted the lack of auditing, proper inventory, and transparency in temple administration, stating that valuable temple assets and vast lands remain unaccounted for or have been encroached upon. “Even cemeteries have been established on Devaswom land. Court orders for land recovery have been ignored for years,” he said.
He cited the disappearance of a 30 kg gold donation by businessman Vijay Mallya, meant for the gold plating of the Sabarimala sanctum, as a glaring example of the administrative rot. Similar issues, he claimed, plague other prominent temples such as Guruvayur, Chottanikkara, Vaikom, and Thripunithura.
Calling for urgent reform, Natesan advocated for a professionally managed and community-driven temple governance model, with reduced government control. “It’s time to end the jungle rule in Devaswom administration. The government should not have to bear the stench of corruption from these boards,” he wrote.
