Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Sabarimala Gold Crown Safe After Audit Confusion, Board Says
A gold crown donated to the Sabarimala temple was reported as missing during an audit.
The crown weighs 55.72 sovereigns.
The Travancore Devaswom Board says it is still safe in the temple’s strong room.
Auditors had confused it with a similar-looking decorative crown.
The decorative crowns were also kept in the same vault.
This led to reports that the real crown had been replaced.
The board president rejected those reports.
Justice K.T. Sankaran also examined the crown and was satisfied that it was secure.
Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar said the 55.72-sovereign gold crown remains safe.
The crown is stored in the Sannidhanam strong room at the Lord Ayyappa Temple.
Early audit findings suggested the gold crown had been replaced by a base-metal replica.
The board said the reports resulted from confusion between the genuine crown and decorative imitation crowns.
Retired High Court judge Justice K.T. Sankaran reportedly examined the crown and found it secure.
- Who
- Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar, Justice K.T. Sankaran, and temple audit personnel.
- What
- A 55.72-sovereign gold crown was mistakenly reported missing or replaced, but the board said it remains safe.
- When
- The clarification was issued on Thursday during an ongoing inventory audit.
- Where
- The crown is held in the Sannidhanam strong room at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple; the press conference took place in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Why
- Audit personnel reportedly confused the genuine crown with similar-looking decorative imitation crowns stored in the same vault.
Initial Audit Concern
Board Clarification
Status of the crown
Initial Audit Concern
Early audit findings indicated that the genuine gold crown had been replaced by a base-metal replica of identical dimensions.
Board Clarification
The Travancore Devaswom Board said the genuine crown remains safe in the Sannidhanam strong room.
Reason for the conflicting reports
Initial Audit Concern
The initial findings raised concerns about a possible substitution or theft.
Board Clarification
The board attributed the reports to administrative confusion caused by cross-referencing a decorative imitation crown kept in the same vault.
- Ornament
- Gold crown donated to the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple
- Weight
- 55.72 sovereigns
- Current status
- Reportedly secure in the Sannidhanam strong room
- Board president
- K. Jayakumar
- Audit reviewer
- Retired High Court judge Justice K.T. Sankaran
- Reported replica
- Base-metal piece with diamond-like white stones
- Cause of confusion
- The genuine crown was stored alongside decorative imitation crowns