ArnulfoVos at 08:58, 15 February 2026

2026-02-15T08:58:44Z

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{{Short description|Socio-religious trusts in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
'''Devaswom''' ({{langx|sa|dēvasvaṁ}};
{{translation|"Belonging to the God"}}) are socio-religious trusts in [[India]], whose members are nominated by the government and community. They oversee [[Hinduism|Hindu]] temples and their assets 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 private bodies or families. The properties of each temple are deemed to be the personal property of the presiding deity of the temple, and are managed through a body of trustees who bear allegiance to that deity.

The five Kerala devaswoms—Guruvayur, Travancore, Malabar, Cochin, and Koodalmanikyam—manage nearly 3,000 temples together.<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>

== Governance and administration ==
Devaswom boards are statutory autonomous bodies constituted by the government to administer, manage, and oversee [[Hindu temple|Hindu temples]] and their assets.

At the government level, Minister for Devaswoms is a Cabinet-level position responsible for policy formulation, oversight, and overall political leadership of the Devaswoms portfolio. The incumbent Devaswom Minister is [[V. N. Vasavan]].

Devaswom boards function under the administrative supervision of the [[Government of Kerala]], primarily through the Revenue (Devaswoms) Department.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Devaswom Department - Cochin Devaswom Board |url=https://www.cochindevaswomboard.org/dept.html |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=www.cochindevaswomboard.org}}</ref> The current Devaswom Secretary is M. G. Rajamanickam, IAS.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-06-20 |title=Kerala government effects bureaucratic reshuffle |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-government-effects-bureaucratic-reshuffle/article69718335.ece |access-date=2025-12-19 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Revenues ==
The five devaswoms earn about 1,000 [[crore]] rupees 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 Devaswom Board|Guruvayur]] || align="right" | 400 || align="right" | 2500 || align="right" | 12 || Sri Guruvayurappan Temple (400)
|-
| [[Travancore Devaswom Board|Travancore]] || align="right" | 683 (2017-18)<ref>{{Cite web |last=archive |first=From our online |date=2018-10-16 |title=Travancore Devaswom Board incurred expense of Rs 678 crore in the last fiscal year: Kadakampally |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/Oct/16/travancore-devaswom-board-incurred-expense-of-rs-678-crore-in-the-last-fiscal-year-kadakampally-1886074.html |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>|| align="right" | 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 Devaswom Board|Malabar]] || align="right" | 80 || align="right" | N/A || align="right" | 1337 || Kadambuzha Sri Parvati Temple (8)
|-
| [[Cochin Devaswom Board|Cochin]] || align="right" | 50 || align="right" | N/A || align="right" | 403 || Chottanikkara Devi Temple (6)
|-
| [[Koodalmanikyam Temple|Koodalmanikyam]] || align="right" | N.A. || align="right" | N/A || align="right" | 13 || Koodalmanikyam Temple
|}

== Travancore Devaswom Board ==
The [[Travancore Devaswom Board]] is an autonomous body formed by the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1950. Sabarimala is the main income source of the Board, with 255 crore rupees accruing to it from the temple 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 57 crore rupees.<ref name="TDB" />

== 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 the Government of Kerala. The board has nine 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.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}
== Guruvayur Devaswom Board ==
The [[Guruvayur Devaswom Board]] was formed to administer the activities of [[Guruvayur Temple]].

== 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.

==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|archive-date=23 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223210419/http://kerala.gov.in/devaswom-boards|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Working==
Prior to 2015, the appointments to the various posts in the devawoms were governed by the provisions in the Madras Hindu Religious Act and Charitable Endowment Act 1951, Koodalmanikyam Devaswom Act 2005, Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act 1950, and Guruvayoor Devaswom Act 1978.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.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 [[K. S. Paripoornan|Justice Paripoornan Commission]], the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]]-led [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]] government set up an autonomous body for recruitment in the Dewaswom 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%)
* [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|SC/ST]] (12%)
* Economically backward High caste Hindus (10%)

==Issues and Controversies==

=== Financial mismanagement and audit issues during 2026 ''Global Ayyappa Sangamam'' ===
Kerala Devaswom Boards, particularly the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), have faced repeated allegations of financial mismanagement, with courts and audit authorities flagging serious irregularities in accounting and auditing practices.

In 2025–26, the [[Kerala High Court]] examined the audited accounts of the ''Global Ayyappa Sangamam'', an event organised by the [[Travancore Devaswom Board]], and found several irregularities. The court found that there has been discrepancies between the Board’s public claims and the figures shown in the audit report, including improper accounting of items distributed to devotees such as ''aravana'', ''appam'', and other ritual materials.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala High Court flags audit irregularities in Global Ayyappa Sangamam accounts |url=https://thesouthfirst.com/kerala/kerala-high-court-flags-audit-irregularities-in-global-ayyappa-sangamam-accounts/ |work=The South First |date=11 February 2026 |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala HC asks TDB to explain irregularities found in audited accounts of Global Ayyappa Sangamam |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/kerala-hc-asks-tdb-to-explain-irregularities-found-in-audited-accounts-of-global-ayyappa-sangamam-1503555323.html |work=The Statesman |date=12 February 2026 |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref> The High Court also stated that audited figures appeared to contradict earlier statements by Devaswom authorities regarding sponsorship receipts and reimbursements.<ref>{{cite news |title=Explain ‘irregularities’ in Global Ayyappa Sangamam, HC asks TDB |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/explain-irregularities-in-global-ayappa-conclave-hc-asks-tdb-101770838329744.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=12 February 2026 |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref>

The Travancore Devaswom Board rejected media reports on the audit findings and described them as misleading. The Board maintained that the expenditures were legitimate and that clarifications would be provided before the court.<ref>{{cite news |title=Travancore Devaswom Board responds to audit allegations |url=https://www.awazthevoice.in/india-news/travancore-devaswom-board-responds-to-audit-allegations-51543.html |work=Awaz The Voice |date=13 February 2026 |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref> The Kerala government distanced itself from the controversy, stating that financial accountability for the event lay solely with the Travancore Devaswom Board. Ministers indicated that the Board was responsible for clarifying audit objections and any reported financial losses.<ref>{{cite news |title=Global Ayyappa Sangamam loss: Kerala govt shies away from responsibility |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/global-ayyappa-sangamam-loss-kerala-govt-shies-away-from-responsibility/articleshow/128212218.cms |work=The Times of India |date=10 February 2026 |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref>

=== Political interference and appointments ===
In 2025, the appointment [[K. Jayakumar]], as the president of the Travancore Devaswom Board became the subject of legal scrutiny when a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer challenged the appointment in the Kerala High Court. The petitioner argued that the appointment violated provision which says a government employee cant be chosen as president.<ref>{{cite news |title=IAS officer moves court challenging appointment of Travancore Devaswom Board president |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/12/05/b-ashok-moves-court-seeking-disqualification-k-jayakumar-tdb-president.html |work=Onmanorama |date=5 December 2025 |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref>

In 2025, the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] alleged violations of established recruitment norms. The BJP state general secretary M.T.Ramesh alleged that the CPM workers are being appointed as employees under Guruvayur Dewaswom and money is being collected from jobseekers to conduct Dewaswom recruitment exams.<ref>{{cite news |title=BJP calls for probe into alleged irregularities in Devaswom Board appointments |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2025/10/23/bjp-calls-for-cbi-probe-into-devaswom-board-irregularities |work=The New Indian Express |date=23 October 2025 |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref>

=== Administrative and governance failures ===
The Kerala High Court has on multiple occasions criticised the Travancore Devaswom Board for administrative inefficiencies, including failure to establish effective internal vigilance systems, delays in addressing complaints of malpractice and crowd management.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala High Court issues guidelines to improve vigilance system in Travancore Devaswom temples |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2026/01/29/kerala-high-court-issues-tdb-temple-vigilance-guidelines.html |work=Onmanorama |date=29 January 2026 |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-11-19 |title=Kerala HC pulls up TDB for poor crowd management at Sabarimala |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-hc-pulls-up-tdb-for-poor-crowd-management-at-sabarimala/article70299175.ece |access-date=2026-02-15 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-12-03 |title=Case against Cochin Devaswom Board in Kerala for violating distance norms while parading elephants at temple |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/case-against-cochin-devaswom-board-in-kerala-for-violating-distance-norms-while-parading-elephants-at-temple/article68941777.ece |access-date=2026-02-15 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Administrative failures, inadequate infrastructure, poor coordination, and lapses in enforcement during peak pilgrimage seasons have drawn criticism from the Kerala High Court over poor crowd control and pilgrim safety at major temples.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala temples face criticism over crowd management and safety lapses |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/10/05/kerala-temples-extortion-warning.html |work=Onmanorama |date=5 October 2025 |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala: HC slams CPM-controlled Kochi Devaswom Board for deploying bouncers for crowd management during festival |url=https://www.vsktelangana.org/Encyc/2025/12/6/kerala-hc-slams-controlled-kochi-devaswom-board-rowd-management-during-festival.html |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=www.vsktelangana.org |language=en}}</ref>
===Attempt to abolish Devaswom===
In 2018, the [[Supreme Court of India]] agreed to examine the petition started by [[Subramanian Swamy]] and [[T. G. Mohandas]] to abolish government interference in temples through the devaswom board. [[U. U. Lalit]] and [[K. M. Joseph]] issued notice to the Government of Kerala 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|date=13 October 2018 }}</ref> In 2019, the Government of Kerala opposed 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 organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kerala]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Kerala]]

Devaswom boards in Kerala - Revision history

ArnulfoVos at 08:58, 15 February 2026