Archive · 25 Jul 2026
Kandararu Brahmadathan appointed new Sabarimala Tantri
Kandararu Brahmadathan has been appointed as the new chief priest (Tantri) of the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.
He will take over from his father, Kandararu Rajeevaru, who asked to step down due to health problems and legal issues.
The appointment was made by the Travancore Devaswom Board and will last until the end of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam.
This decision has sparked some controversy, with some people arguing that the position should not be passed down through the same family.
The BJP party has said that this is not a political issue and that the comments made by one of their leaders were personal opinions.
Kandararu Brahmadathan appointed as the new Tantri of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.
He will succeed his father, Kandararu Rajeevaru, who requested to be relieved of duties due to health issues and legal troubles.
The appointment is effective from Chingam 1 until Karkidakam 31 of the Malayalam calendar.
The decision was made by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in a meeting attended by key members.
The appointment has sparked controversy, with calls to end the hereditary appointment process for the Tantri position.
- Who
- Kandararu Brahmadathan, Kandararu Rajeevaru, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), K S Radhakrishnan
- What
- Appointment of Kandararu Brahmadathan as the new Tantri of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple
- When
- Effective from Chingam 1 (mid-August to mid-September) until Karkidakam 31 (mid-July to mid-August)
- Where
- Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple, Kerala
- Why
- Kandararu Rajeevaru sought to be relieved of his duties citing health issues and legal troubles
Hereditary Appointment
Reform Advocates
Appointment Process
Hereditary Appointment
Supports the traditional hereditary appointment process for the Tantri position.
Reform Advocates
Advocates for ending the hereditary claim and selecting the Tantri through a more transparent process.
Current Tantri's Health
Hereditary Appointment
Acknowledges the outgoing Tantri's health issues as a valid reason for his request to be relieved of duties.
Reform Advocates
Questions the appropriateness of appointing a successor while the outgoing Tantri faces legal issues.
- New Tantri
- Kandararu Brahmadathan
- Previous Tantri
- Kandararu Rajeevaru
- Appointment Date
- Chingam 1 (mid-August to mid-September)
- Tenure End Date
- Karkidakam 31 (mid-July to mid-August)
- Appointing Authority
- Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB)
- Controversy
- Alleged gold loss case involving the outgoing Tantri
- Political Reaction
- BJP distanced itself from a senior leader's call to end hereditary appointment
