ArnulfoVos: Updated formatting and improved readability

2026-02-15T08:58:44Z

Updated formatting and improved readability

>Titodutta: clean up, typo(s) fixed: , → , (2), permenent → permanent

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clean up, typo(s) fixed: , → , (2), permenent → permanent

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
'''Devaswom''' ({{lang-sa|dēvasvaṁ}};
{{translation|"Belonging to the God"}}) are socio-religious trusts in India that comprise members nominated by both government and community. [[Hinduism|Hindu]] temples and their assets and to ensure their smooth operation in accordance with traditional rituals and customs. The devaswom system notably exists in the state of [[Kerala]], where most temples are either managed by [[Government of Kerala]]-controlled devaswoms or formed by private bodies/families. The properties of each temple are deemed to be the personal property of the presiding deity the temple and are managed through a body of trustees who bear allegiance to the presiding deity.

The five Kerala devaswoms (Guruvayur, Travancore, Malabar, Cochin, and Koodalmanikyam) together manage nearly 3000 temples.<ref name="G Rajiv, TP Nijeesh 2012, pp 3">{{cite news |title=They Manage the Wealth of the Gods |work=The Times of India |date=4 September 2012 |page=3}}</ref>

== Revenues ==
The five devaswoms (Guruvayur, Travancore, Malabar, Cochin, and Koodalmanikyam) earn about Rs. 1000 crore annually.<ref name="G Rajiv, TP Nijeesh 2012, pp 3"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Managing-Gods-wealth-Keralas-four-Devaswoms-together-earn-Rs-1000-crore-annually/articleshow/16245083.cms |title=Managing Gods' wealth: Kerala's four Devaswoms together earn Rs 1000 crore annually |work=The Times of India |date=2012-09-04 |access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Devaswom !! Annual revenue (crores of INR) !! Net assets (crores of INR) !! Number of temples !! Richest temples (annual revenue in crores (INR))
|-
| Guruvayur || align="right" | 400 || 2500 || align="right" | 12 || Sri Guruvayurappan Temple (400)
|-
| Travancore || align="right" | 390 || N.A. || align="right" | 1240 || Sabarimala Hill Shrine (200)<br />Chettikulangara Devi temple, Mavelikkara (100)
Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple<br />Ettumanoor Siva Temple (60)<br />Malayalappuzha Devi Temple (5.75)
|-
| Malabar || align="right" | 80 || N.A. || align="right" | 1337 || Kadambuzha Sri Parvati Temple (8)
|-
| Cochin || align="right" | 50 || N.A. || align="right" | 403 || Chottanikkara Devi Temple (6)
|-
| Koodalmanikyam || align="right" | N.A. || N.A. || align="right" | 1 || [[Koodalmanikyam Temple]]
|}

== Travancore Devaswom Board ==

Travancore Devaswom Board is an autonomous body formed as per the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1950. It is one of the oldest Devaswom Board, as a successor to Travancore Royal Devaswom Commission. The headquarters of Travancore Devaswom Board is located at Devaswom Complex in Nanthancode, [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. Current president of Travancore Devaswom Board is Sri.N Vasu. The first president of Travancore Devaswom Board was Sri. Mannathu Padmanabhan.Immediately after the British take over of Travancore, all temples till then, managed by different communities and families were confiscated including all its movable and immovable assets and put under the control of one institution with top control resting with the British resident. The [[Sabarimala]] temple, is the largest (in income) and most important temple of Travancore Devaswom board. The second largest temple (in income) under this board is [[Chettikulangara Devi temple]] at Mavelikkara. The third largest temple (in income) under board is [[Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple|Haripad Sree Subramanya Swami Mahakshetram]].The Constitution of the Board was based on the covenant entered into by the King of Travancore. Sabarimala is the main income source of the board, with Rs. 255 crore accruing to it from there during the previous pilgrimage season.<ref name="TDB">{{cite web | last = Nair | first = N.J | title = Sabarimala revenue touches record Rs 255 crore | publisher = The Deccan Chronicle (newspaper) | date = 17 January 2018 | url =https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/170118/sabarimala-revenue-touches-record-rs-255-crore.html }}</ref> The income from the rest of the temples in Kerala was Rs. 57 crore.<ref name="TDB" />

=== Administration ===
The Board comprises President and two Members, the President and one Member is nominated by the Hindu members of the Kerala Council of Ministers and the other Member from the Hindu Members of State legislature. The term of the President and Members is for a period of three years. The headquarters of the board is in Nanthancode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

=== Main Temples ===
*'''''[[Sabarimala|Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple]], [[Pathanamthitta district|Pathanamthitta District]]'''''
*'''[[Chettikulangara Devi Temple]], [[Mavelikkara]]'''
*[[Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple|'''Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple''']]
*[[Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple|'''Sreekrishna Temple, Ambalappuzha''']]
*[[Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple]], [[Mavelikkara]]
*[[Chengannur Mahadeva Temple]]
*
*[[Mavelikkara|SreekrishnaswamyTemple, Mavelikkara]]
**
**
**
**
**
*[[Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swami Temple|Neyyatinkara Sree krishna swamy Temple]]
*
*[[Valiyakoikkal Temple|Valiakoikkal Temple]], [[Pandalam]]
* Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple, [[Mannar, Alappuzha]] District
* Keezhattingal Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple, [[Keezhattingal (village)|Keezhattingal]], [[Attingal]], [[Thiruvananthapuram|Trivandrum]]
*Kuttiyani Sree Dharma Shasta Temple, Kuttiyani, Trivandrum
*
*Cheriyanad BalaSubrahmanya Swamy temple, [[Cheriyanad]], Chengannur, Alappuzha district
*Thottakkad Sree Sankaranarayana swami Maha Temple Kottayam,
* [[:ml:Vazhappally Mahadeva Temple|Vazhappally Maha Temple]], [[Changanassery]]
* [[:ml:Mughavoor Maha Vishnu Temple|Mughavoor Maha Vishnu Temple]], Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram
* [[Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple]], [[Pathanamthitta District]]
* Adoor Parthasarathy Temple, [[Adoor]]
* [[Sreevallabha Temple]], [[Thiruvalla]], [[Pathanamthitta District]]
*
* [[Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple]], [[Ettumanoor]], [[Kottayam District]]
* [http://www.thuravoortemple.org Thuravoor temple] Narasimha Moorthy, SudharshanaMoorthy Mahakshethram, Thuravoor
* Mahadeva Temple (Hanuman Temple), Kaviyoor, [[Kaviyoor]], [[Pathanamthitta District]]
* Mookambika Devi Temple, [[North Paravur]]
* [[Malayalappuzha Devi Temple]], [[Pathanamthitta District]]
* Thirunakkara Siva Temple, [[Kottayam District]]
* [[Sreekanteswaram]] Temple, Thiruvananthapuram
* [[Religion in Kollam District#Other Temples|Umayanalloor Sri Balasubramanya Swami Temple]]
* Sreekrishna Temple, Ambalappuzha
* Mahadeva Temple, Kandiyoor, Mavelikkara
* Sreekrishna Temple, Mavelikkara
* Mahadeva Temple, Vaikom
* Devi Karthiyayani Temple, Cherthala
* Devi Karthiyayani Temple, Aroor, Alapuzha
* Goureesapattom Mahadeva Temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
* Sree Parasurama Swamy Temple, Thiruvallam, Trivandrum
*Kunnathu Mahadeva Temple
* Mahadevar Temple, Kazhakkuttom, Trivandrum
* Sarkara Devi Temple, Chirayinkil, Trivandrum
* Kodungoor Devi Temple, Kodungoor, Kottayam District
* Agasthyacode Mahadevar Temple, Agasthyacode, Anchal, Kollam District
* Major Puthiydam Sreekrishna Swami Temple, Kayamkulam
* [[Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathi Kshethram]], [[Kottarakkara]], [[Kollam district]]
* Major Vettikalavala Temple, Vettikavala
* Ayyapaswamy Temple, Kulathupuzha
* Ayyapaswamy Temple, Ayankavu
* Ayyappaswamy Temple, Achankovil
* Vaipur Sree Mahadevar Temple, Vaipur, Mallappally
* Kumaranchira Devi Temple, Sooranadu South, Kollam
* Sastha Temple, Sasthamcotta
* Padanayarkullanagara Temple, Karunagapply
* Kottamkullanagara Devi Temple, Chavara
* Janardhana Swamy Temple, Varkala.
* Hrishikesha Temple, Madamon, Pathanamthita.
* Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple, Thrikkakara, Ernakulam
* Kulappada Sreedharmasasthaswamy Temple, Kulappada, Thiruvananthapuram
* Erumely Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, Erumely, Kottayam.
* Kavil Bhagavathi Temple, Changanacherry, Kottayam
* Thanganal Mahadeva Temple, Thanganal Changanacherry, Kottayam District
* Sree Subrhamanya Swami Temple, Pananchery, Trichur
* Mahadeva Temple, Pananchery, Trichur
* Sree Shankaranarayana Swami Temple, Navaikulam, Thiruvananthapuram
*Koyikkal mahadeva temple, Nedumangad
* Sreenarayana Puram Temple, Choorakkodu, Pathanamthitta
* [[Sasthamangalam Mahadevar Temple]], Thiruvananthapuram
* Arayoor Major Sree Mahadevar Temple, Thiruvananthapuram
* Thirumullavarom Mahavishnu Temple, Kollam
* Thrikadavoor Mahadeva Temple, Kollam
* Ashramom Sreekrishna Swamy Temple, Kollam
* Sakthikulangara Dharma Sastha Temple, Kollam
* Thiruvilangonappan Temple, Kamukumchery, Punalur
* [http://www.ramapuramdevitemple.in Ramapuram Bharanikavu Bhagavathy Temple] Ramapuram, Kayamkulam
* Devi Temple, Pattazhy, Kollam
* Peruvaram Mahadeva temple, North Paravur
* Kannankulangara Sreekrishna temple, North Paravur
* Thonniakavu bhadrakali Temple, North Paravur
* Thirupuram Sree Mahadeva Temple, Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram
* Mahadeva Temple, Vaikom
* Ramapuram Sri Mahavishnu Temple, Ranni
* Aluva mahadeva temple, aluva manappuram
*Karumadi kavil devi temple, karumadi

=== Governed Institutions ===

==== Schools ====
There are several Primary and Higher Secondary schools all over South Kerala.

==== Colleges ====
There are four aided colleges all over South Kerala. They are:
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100521065955/http://www.dbcsasthamcotta.edu.in/ D. B. College, Sasthamcotta], Kollam District
*[http://www.dbcollegethal.org D. B. College, Thalayolaparambu], Kottayam District
*[http://www.dbpampacollege.org D. B. Pampa College, Parumala, Mannar], Pathanamthitta District
*[http://www.travancoredevaswomboard.org Sree Ayyappa College], Eramallikkara, Chengannur, Alappuzha District [[Dewaswom Board College|   '''more →''']]

==== Temples ====
Sree Subrahamanya Swami Temple, Pnanachery, Trichur
Mahadeva Temple, Pananchery
Sree Balasubramanyaswami Temple Cheriyanad

== Malabar Devaswom Board ==
The Malabar Devaswom Board<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in/ |title=Malabar Devaswom Board |publisher=Malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in |access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref> was formed by the H.R & C.E (Amendment) Ordinance of 2008 of Government of Kerala. The Board consists of 9 members. There are five divisions Kasaragod Division, Thalassery Division, Kozhikode Division, Malappuram Division and Palakkad Division.
Temples are in Special Temple category and the others in A, B, C, D categories. In special category are<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_atomicongallery&folder=Important+Temples&Itemid=69 |title=Photo Gallery |publisher=Malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in |access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref>
'Some of the well known' temples (*All temples cannot be included)
*[[Thirunelli Temple|Tirunelli Temple]], Wayanad
*[[Rajarajeshwara Temple|Shree Rajarajeshwaram]], [[Taliparamba]]
*Tali Shiva Temple, Kozhikode
*Sree Subrahmanyaswami Temple, [[Payyannur]]
*Sree Mannanpurathukavu, [[Nileshwaram]]
*[[Sree Madiyan Koolom Temple]], [[Kanhangad]]
*Thaliyil Shiva temple, Nileshwaram
*[[Madhur Temple]], Kasargod
*[[Muthappan Temple|Parassini Madappura]]
*[[Kottiyoor Temple|Kottiyoor Vadakkeshwaram Temple]]
*[[Thiruvangad Sree Ramaswami Temple]], Thalassery
*Mamanikkunnu Mahadevi Temple, Irikkur
*Peralassery Temple, Makrery
*[[Madayi Kavu|Tiruvarkadu Bhagavathy Temple]], [[Valapattanam]]
*[[Sree Pisharikavu Bhagavathy Temple]], Kollam, Kozhikode
*Mammiyoor Mahadeva Temple, Guruvayoor
*[[Kadampuzha Devi Temple|Kadampuzha Bhagavathi Temple]], Melmury
*Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple
*Thriprangottu Siva Temple, Thruprangottu
*[[Thirumandhamkunnu Temple]], [[Angadippuram]] (Taken on 01-08-2017)

Prominent 'Category A' temples: Cherukunnu Annapoorneswari Temple, Cherukunnu, Anantheshwaram Temple, Kasargod, [[Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple]], Valapattanam.<br />
Prominent 'Category B' temples: Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple, Kongadu, Viswanathaswami Temple, Kalpathy, Thaliyil Neelakanda Temple, Neeleswaram. These temples are in relative lower category but are highly famous in the region.

<ref>http://www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in/images/pdf/div_thalassery.pdf</ref>
<ref>http://www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in/images/pdf/div_kasaragod.pdf</ref>
<ref>http://www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in/images/pdf/div_kozhikode.pdf</ref>
<ref>http://www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in/images/pdf/div_malappuram.pdf</ref>
<ref>http://www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in/images/pdf/div_palakkad.pdf</ref>

== Guruvayur Devaswom Board ==
The Guruvayur Devaswom Board was formed for administering the activities of [[Guruvayur Temple]].

=== Administration ===
Administrative office started functioning since 1997. The day-to-day administration is to be looked after by an Administrator appointed by the [[Government of Kerala]]. The Managing Committee includes the Tantri of the temple,The karanavar of mallissery illam, samoothiri raja and Government Nominated 6 members including a representative from the Guruvayur devaswom permanent employees.

===Educational institutions===
* [[Sree Krishna Higher Secondary School, Guruvayur]]
* [[Sree Krishna College, Guruvayur]]

== Cochin Devaswom Board ==
The Cochin Devaswom Board was formed under the act of XV of Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious institutions Act,1950 to make provisions for the administration, supervision and control of incorporated and unincorporated Devaswoms and of other Hindu Religious Endowments and funds under the Ruling area of the former Cochin State. Each temples on CDB has controlled by devaswoms. The financial aspects of each devaswoms are handled by following groups.

* Chottanikkara
* Thrissur
* Thiruvanchikulam
* Thiruvilwamala
* Thripunithura

=== Main Temples ===
* [[Chottanikkara Temple]] or [[Sree Rajarajeswari Temple]], [[Chottanikkara]], [[Ernakulam district]]
* [[Vadakkunnathan Temple]], [[Thrissur]], [[Thrissur district]]
* [[Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple]] or [[Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple]] , [[Kodungallur]], [[Thrissur district]]
* [[Thriprayar Shree Ramaswami Temple]] or [[Thriprayar Temple]], [[Thriprayar]], [[Thrissur district]]
* [[Sree Poornathrayesa Temple]], [[Tripunithura]], [[Ernakulam district]]
* [[Ernakulam Shiva Temple]] or Ernakulathappan Temple, [[Ernakulam]], [[Ernakulam district]]
* [[Thiruvanchikulam Temple]], [[Kodungallur]], [[Thrissur district]]
* Thiruvilwamala [[Vilwadrinatha Temple]], [[Thiruvilwamala]], [[Thrissur district]]
* [[Chittoor Sree Krishnaswamy Temple]], South Chittoor, [[Ernakulam district]]
* [[Chittoorkavu Devi Temple]], Chittur, [[Palakkad district]]
* Pazhayannur Bhagawathy Temple, [[Pazhayannur]], [[Thrissur district]]
* Nelluvay Dhanwanthari Temple, [[Nelluwaya]], [[Thrissur district]]
* Uthralikkavu Bhagavathi Temple, [[Wadakkancherry]], [[Thrissur district]]
* [[Arattupuzha Temple]], [[Arattupuzha]], [[Thrissur district]]
* [[Ammathiruvadi Temple]], Urakam, [[Thrissur district]]
* [[Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple]], Peruvnam, [[Thrissur district]]
* [[Sri Nellikulangara Bhagavathi Temple]], [[Nemmara]], [[Palakkad district]]
* [[Malamakkavu Ayyappa Temple]], [[Koodallur]], [[Palakkad district]]
* [[Tirunettur Mahadeva Temple]], [[Nettoor]], [[Ernakulam district]]
* [[Annamanada Mahadeva Temple]], [[Annamanada]], [[Thrissur district]]
* Elamkunnapuzha Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple, [[Elamkunnapuzha]], [[Ernakulam district]]
* Cheranalloor Bhagavathy Temple, [[Cheranallur]], [[Ernakulam district]]
* [[Chakkamkulangara Siva Temple]], [[Tripunithura]], [[Ernakulam district]]
* [[Thanikkudam Bhagavathi Temple]], [[Thanikkudam]], [[Thrissur district]]

=== Educational institutions ===
* [[Sree Kerala Varma College]], [[Thrissur]]
* [[Sree Vivekananda College, Kunnamkulam]]

==Koodalmanikyam Devaswom Board==
The Koodalmanikyam Devaswom Board is situated in [[Irinjalakuda]], [[Thrissur district]]. It manages the [[Koodalmanikyam Temple]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Devaswom Boards - Government of Kerala, India|url=https://kerala.gov.in/devaswom-boards|publisher=Kerala.gov.in|access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref>

==Working==
Prior to 2015 the appointments to the various posts in the Dewaswam Boards were governed by the provisions in the Madras Hindu Religious Act and Charitable Endowment Act 1951, Koodalmanickam Devaswom Act 2005, Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act 1950 and Guruvayoor Devaswom Act 1978.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/kerala-government-to-constitute-devaswom-recruitment-board/articleshow/48031152.cms|title=Kerala government to constitute Devaswom Recruitment Board|access-date= 12 March 2020}}</ref> In 2015,based on the recommendations by the Justice Paripoornan Commission the Congress led UDF government set up an autonomous body for recruitment in the Dewaswam Boards.<ref name="auto"/>

===Reservation===
About half of the Devaswom board recruitments are based on reservation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/reservation-kerala-government-pinarayi-vijayan-reservation-for-economically-weaker-in-kerala-493891/|title=Devaswom boards: Kerala govt announces 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker among Hindu forward communities|access-date=12 March 2020}}</ref>
*[[Ezhava]](17%)
*Hindu OBC excluding Ezhava(6%)
*SC/ST(12%)
*Economically backward High caste Hindus(10%)

==Attempt to abolish Devaswom==
The Supreme Court in 2018 agreed to examine the petition moved by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and TG Mohan Das to abolish Devaswom Board. The bench of Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph issued notice to the Kerala government and Devaswom Board of Travanacore and Cochin and sought their response in six weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/oct/13/supreme-court-issues-notice-to-kerala-on-devaswom-board-1884903.html|title=Supreme Court issues notice to Kerala on Devaswom Board|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> In 2019, the Kerala government opposed Subramanian Swamy's plea.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/kerala-opposes-swamy-s-plea-to-make-devaswom-boards-free-of-state-s-control-119012301349_1.html|title=Kerala opposes Swamy's plea to make Devaswom boards free of state's control|agency=Press Trust of India|date=23 January 2019|via=Business Standard|newspaper=Business Standard India}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.travancoredevaswomboard.org/ The official website of Travancore Devaswom Board]
*[http://www.cochindevaswomboard.org/ The official website of Cochin Devaswom Board]
*[http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/ The official website of Guruvayur Devaswom Board]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080112081225/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/11/stories/2008011163831100.htm Devaswom Board members to work together, The Hindu news]
*[http://www.kerala.gov.in/tdevaswomboard.pdf Government of Kerala, Travancore Devaswom Board]{{Dead link|date=June 2011}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devaswom Boards in Kerala}}
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kerala]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Kerala]]
[[Category:Hindu organisations based in India]]

Devaswom boards in Kerala - Revision history

ArnulfoVos: Updated formatting and improved readability

>Titodutta: clean up, typo(s) fixed: , → , (2), permenent → permanent