Temples In India-1.pdf - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA PATRIKAthere are four othikkans holding hereditaryoffice. The othikkan is both a teacher andreciter of Vedas. Their functions are akinto those of the Tantri. The Melsanthi (chiefpriest) is appointed only for six months ata time. He has to observe strict celibacyand therefore resides within the templewalls. There are kizhusanthis from 13Nambudiri families and their duties are toprepare the offerings for the pujas, etc.Then there are a number of Ambalavasis(temple servants) whose chores consist incollecting flowers, making garlands, etc.The administration, control andmanagement of Sree Krishna Temple,Guruvayur, its properties and managementwere vested in the hereditary trustees, viz.,the Zamorin Raja of Calicut and theKarnavan for the time being, the MallisseriIllam at Guruvayur. This administration wastaken over by the Government of Keralaby virtue of Guruvayur Devaswom Act, (Act6 of 1971). This Act was subsequentlystruck down by the High Court of Kerala.The Guruvayur Devaswom Act, 1978, cameinto force on 29.11.1977. Theadministration, control and management arenow vested in a committee constituted asper the Act of 1978 called GuruvayurDevaswom Managing Committee.The main source of income of the GuruvayurDevaswom are (1) the hundial collectionsof Sree Krishna Temple, (2) share ofofferings made by the devotees in thetemple, (3) interest on various investments,(4) annuity received from the Government,(5) rent derived from buildings and (6) hirechargesof elephants. The approximateannual income will be Rupees two crores.The other temples belonging to theDevaswom are (1) Thalakottukara SivaTEMPLE INDIATemple, (2) Anjoor Ayyappankavu Temple(3) Manganchira Vishnu Temple, (4)Punnathur Temple, (5) NarayanankulangareBhagavathi Temple, (6) Thamarayur Templeand (7) Vermannur Siva Temple.The Devaswom is running the followinginstitutions; (1) one First Grade College,(2) one High School, (3) One Kalanilayamconsisting of Krishnanattam troupe and aVadya Vidyalayam. The Vadya Vidyalayamimparts training to students in templemusical instruments such as Chenda,Kurumkuehal, Kombu, etc; (4) A freeHospital having Civil Surgeon I Grade, (5)Gosala consisting of good milch cows, (6)comfortable lodgings to give to the pilgrimsthe necessary facilities, (7) free satramto provide accommodation to the lowerincome group of the pilgrims, (8) satramhaving four two-storeyed buildings and onefive-storeyed building (under construction)to provide accommodation to the middleincome group of the pilgrims, (9) A Rest-House, a five-storeyed building-to provideaccommodation to pilgrims who havesubstantial income, (10) A Guest-House forV.I.P.’s (11) A Museum, (12) A PublicRelations and Publication Division and (13)Library -, The temple has nearly a thousandemployees on its rolls serving it in variouscapacities. Besides, the temple providesdaily bread to many. Poor-feeding is donedaily with the interest on endowments madeby many devotees. Guruvayur has becomea great pilgrim centre and it has alreadysecured an important place in the touristmap of India.157