Malabar Devaswom Board

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Malabar Devaswom Board is a statutory and Independent body created for the governing and management of nearly 1340 temples in South Malabar and North Malabar assigned to it.^[1] The board came into existence in its present form on 2 October 2008 following the Madras H.R & C.E (Amendment) Act, 2008 by Kerala Legislative Assembly.^[2]

Till Pre-British era temple management was with local members of town. Temple was a place of many cultural activities and social development place with rest houses, cow dwelling places, community halls etc. In Northern Kerala most temples were controlled by aristocratic families with feudal background.^[3]

With the passing of Madras Regulation Act in the year 1817, temples were brought under the control of East India Company,a corporate organisation. However, from 1925, temples were brought under government control with the passing of State Religious and Charitable Endowments Act. Under this Act, the state governments exercised power for the formation of Temple Development Boards for major temples with the members from local city. The concept of temple included its premises and wealth and Temple Development Boards for many temples in India are created for the maintenance and governing of the affairs of temple.^[4] Thus the temples under Malabar District came under Madras H.R & C.E Act 1926.

After States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the temples in erstwhile Malabar District excluding Lakshadweep and including Kasaragod taluk of South Canara governed by Madras H.R & C.E Act 1926 came under the control of Government of Kerala.^[5] The Malabar Devaswom Board came into being in 2008, firstly through an ordinance and subsequently through the amendment of the act.

Temple Development Board includes Chairman,and seven other members appointed by State Government.^[6] Malabar Devaswom Board is presently headed by M.R. Murali, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) politician from Shoranur.^[7][8]

The temples are managed by a Devaswom Commissioner from Kozhikode. Under the commissioner there are five geographical divisions each headed by an Assistant Devaswom Commissioner namely;

• Kasaragod - 215 temples spread across Kasaragod district and Taliparamba taluk of Kannur district.
• Thalassery - 231 temples spread across Vatakara taluk of Kozhikode, Mananthavady taluk of Wayanad and Kannur district
• Kozhikode - temples spread across rest of Kozhikode and Wayanad districts and Eranad taluk of Malappuram.
• Malappuram - nearly 350 temples spread across Malappuram district, Ottapalam taluk, Chavakkad and Kodungallur taluks of Thrissur district.
• Palakkad - 346 temples in Palakkad district and one in Fort Kochi

Roles and Responsibilities of Temple Development Board includes the following:^{[9][10][4][11][12][13]}

• Ensuring performance of rituals.
• Ensuring accounting of collections.
• Development and maintenance of temples in other towns.
• Ensuring security of the temple property.
• Ensuring welfare of pilgrims.
• Look after welfare of staff.
• Hygiene preparation of Prasad.
• Road Maintenance and drinking water supply in premises.

Following is the list of famous temples maintained by the Board:

Sree Parthasarathisaradi Temple Guruvayoor

• Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department
• Devaswom boards in Kerala
• Travancore Devaswom Board

• Official Website