Mittie94U89577 at 02:14, 26 April 2026

2026-04-26T02:14:01Z

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{{Short description|Temple governance body in Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox organization
| image =
| caption =
| formation = {{start date and age|1956}}
| type = Trust
| purpose = Management of 12 temples
| headquarters = [[Guruvayur]], [[Thrissur district]]
| location = Guruvayur
| region_served = [[Kerala]]
| leader_title = Commissioner
| leader_name = Sri M.G. Rajamanickam IAS
| leader_title2 = Chairman
| leader_name2 = Sri A V Gopinath
| leader_title3 = Administrator
| leader_name3 = Sri O B Arun kumar

| leader_title4 = CF&AO
| leader_name4 = Sri Sajith K P
| website = {{URL|https://guruvayurdevaswom.nic.in/Home}}
}}

'''Guruvayur Devaswom ''' is a [[Statute|Statutory]] and Independent body created for the [[Governance|governing]] and [[management]] of 12 [[temple]]s in [[Kerala]] assigned to it. With the passing of Madras Regulation Act in the year 1817, temples were brought under the control of [[East India Company]], a corporate organisation. The concept of temple included its premises and wealth. However, from 1925, temples were brought under government control with the passing of State Religious and Charitable Endowments Act. Under this Act, the state governments exercised power for the formation of Temple Development Boards for major temples with the members from local city.

== History and Objective ==

Guruvayur Devaswom manages around 12 temples including [[Guruvayur Temple]], Guruvayur, in Kerala.<ref name="gu2">{{cite news |title=Kerala HC directs Pinarayi Vijayan govt to return Rs 10 crore donation from Guruvayur temple board |url=https://www.indialegallive.com/constitutional-law-news/courts-news/kerala-hc-rs-10-crore-cm-relief-fund-guruvayur-temple-board-kerala-government/ |access-date=28 June 2022 |publisher=India Legal |date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Till Pre-British era temple management was with local members of town. Temple was a place of many cultural activities and social development place wish rest houses, cow dwelling places, and community halls.<ref name="td2">{{cite news |title=Indian govt won't be any different from British if Hindus can't manage their own temples |url=https://theprint.in/opinion/indian-govt-wont-be-any-different-from-british-if-hindus-cant-manage-their-own-temples/218210/ |access-date=25 June 2022 |publisher=ThePrint |date=8 April 2019}}</ref> Temple Development Boards for many temples in India are created for the maintenance and governing of the affairs of temple.<ref name="td1">{{cite news |title=Why India's temples must be freed from government control |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/why-indias-temples-must-be-freed-from-government-control-9460381.html |access-date=25 June 2022 |publisher=Firstpost |date=25 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Post Independence, temples were brought under the administration of State Governments with the Guruvayoor Devasom Act, 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FOLDER NAME : The Guruvayoor Devasom Act,1978 |url=https://lawmdls.keltron.in/advancesearchtoall_view.php?id=46 |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=25 October 2025 |website=Official Website of Law Department, Government of Kerala}}</ref>

== Composition ==

Guruvayur.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FOLDER NAME : The Guruvayoor Devasom Act,1978 |url=https://lawmdls.keltron.in/advancesearchtoall_view.php?id=46 |url-status=live |access-date=25 October 2025 |website=Official Website of Law Department, Govt of Kerala}}</ref> Devaswom Managing committee includes chairman, Members and Administrator appointed by State Government.<ref name="gu1">{{cite news |title=Guruvayur: Krishnachandran Namboothiri new head priest; Dr VK Vijayan new chairman of Devaswom |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/guruvayur-krishnachandran-namboothiri-new-head-priest-dr-vk-vijayan-new-chairman-of-devaswom-1.7351712 |access-date=28 June 2022 |publisher=English.Mathrubhumi |date=17 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="td4">{{cite news |title='Letting non-Hindus run Hindu temples a mockery of secularism' |url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/letting-non-hindus-run-hindu-temples-mockery-secularism |access-date=25 June 2022 |publisher=The Sunday Guardian Live |date=22 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="td2" /><ref name="td6">{{cite news |title=Telangana may not invite PM to Yadadri temple function |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/telangana-may-not-invite-pm-to-yadadri-temple-function-101645382703980.html |access-date=25 June 2022 |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=21 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Guruvayur Devaswom is headed by its Chairman Dr VK Vijayan.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-17 |title=V K Vijayan gets second term as Guruvayur Devaswom chairman |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/v-k-vijayan-re-elected-as-guruvayur-devaswom-chairman-in-thrissur/articleshow/108555556.cms |access-date=2025-10-25 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Roles and Responsibilities ==

Guruvayur Devaswom is formed for following roles and responsibilities:<ref name="gu4">{{cite news |title=No entry to Nalambalam in Guruvayur temple |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/no-entry-to-nalambalam-in-guruvayur-temple/article33259302.ece |access-date=28 June 2022 |work=The Hindu |date=5 December 2020 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name="gu3">{{cite news |title=Guruvayur temple to reopen today |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/guruvayur-temple-to-reopen-today/article34933340.ece |access-date=28 June 2022 |work=The Hindu |date=23 June 2021 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name="td3">{{cite news |title=Tirupathi temple board to build temple, spiritual centre in J&K, gets land lease for 40 years |url=https://theprint.in/india/tirupathi-temple-board-to-build-temple-spiritual-centre-in-jk-gets-land-lease-for-40-years/632685/ |access-date=25 June 2022 |publisher=ThePrint |date=1 April 2021}}</ref><ref name="td1" /><ref name="td5">{{cite news |title=Firhad Hakim is chairman of Tarakeshwar Development Board, not Mandir Trust |url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/kolkata-248405 |access-date=25 June 2022 |publisher=millenniumpost.in |date=21 June 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="td7">{{cite news |last1=Mungara |first1=Sunil |title=Hyderabad: Yadadri temple getting ready for inaugural {{!}} Hyderabad News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/yadadri-getting-ready-for-inaugural/articleshow/88131790.cms |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=7 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="td8">{{cite news |title=Jammu: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board initiates development of 'Shankaracharya temple' in Katra {{!}} Jammu News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jammu/jammu-shri-mata-vaishno-devi-shrine-board-initiates-development-of-shankaracharya-temple-in-katra/articleshow/90460656.cms |access-date=26 June 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=26 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

* Ensuring performance of rituals.
* Ensuring accounting of collections.
* Development and maintenance of temples in other towns.
* Ensuring security of the temple property.
* Ensuring welfare of pilgrims.
* Look after welfare of staff.
* Hygiene preparation of Prasad.
* Road Maintenance and drinking water supply in premises.

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://guruvayurdevaswom.in Official website]

[[Category:Guruvayur]]
[[Category:Hindu organisations based in India]]

Guruvayur Devaswom Board - Revision history

Mittie94U89577 at 02:14, 26 April 2026