Singh142536 at 20:12, 26 April 2026

2026-04-26T20:12:41Z

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{{Short description|Administrative body for Malabar's temples}}
{{notability|Org|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| image =
| caption =
| formation = {{start date and age|1956}}
| type = Trust
| purpose = Management of 1300 temples
| headquarters = [[Kozhikode]]
| location = Malabar Devaswom Board, Housefed Complex, Eranhippalam PO., Kozhikode - 673006.
| region_served = [[Kerala]]
| leader_title = Chairman
| leader_name = Sri.M.R.Murali
| leader_title2 = Executive Officer
| leader_name2 =
| website = {{URL|http://www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in/}}
}}
'''Malabar Devaswom Board''' is a [[Statute|statutory]] and Independent body created for the [[Governance|governing]] and [[management]] of nearly 1401 [[temple]]s in [[South Malabar]] and [[North Malabar]] assigned to it.<ref name="ma3">{{cite news |date=9 July 2017 |title=List of Temples Maintained By Malabar Devaswom Board Kerala - |language=en-us |publisher=Temples In India Info |url=https://templesinindiainfo.com/list-of-temples-maintained-by-malabar-devaswom-board-kerala/ |access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref> The board came into existence in its present form on 2 October 2008 following the ''Madras H.R & C.E (Amendment) Act, 2008'' by [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About MDB |url=http://www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=53 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in}}</ref>

== History ==

Till Pre-British era temple management was with local members of town. [[Temple]] was a place of many cultural activities and social development place with rest houses, cow dwelling places, community halls etc. In [[Kerala|Northern Kerala]] most temples were controlled by aristocratic families with feudal background.<ref name="td2">{{cite news |date=8 April 2019 |title=Indian govt won't be any different from British if Hindus can't manage their own temples |publisher=ThePrint |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}}</ref>

With the passing of ''Madras Regulation Act'' in the year 1817, temples were brought under the control of [[East India Company]], a corporate organisation. 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. The concept of temple included its premises and wealth and 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 |date=25 March 2021 |title=Why India's temples must be freed from government control |language=en |publisher=Firstpost |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/why-indias-temples-must-be-freed-from-government-control-9460381.html |access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref> Thus the temples under [[Malabar District]] came under ''Madras H.R & C.E Act 1926.''

After [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956]], the temples in erstwhile [[Malabar District]] excluding [[Lakshadweep]] and including [[Kasaragod taluk]] of [[South Canara]] governed by ''Madras H.R & C.E Act 1926'' came under the control of [[Government of Kerala]].<ref name="ma4">{{cite news |last1=Kuttoor |first1=Radhakrishnan |date=6 June 2020 |title=Temples in Kerala set to open doors to devotees on June 9 |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/devotees-must-tread-the-cautious-path-when-temples-reopen/article31768799.ece |access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref> The Malabar Devaswom Board came into being in 2008, firstly through an ordinance and subsequently through the amendment of the act.

== Organisation ==

Temple Development Board includes Chairman, and seven other members appointed by State Government.<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> Malabar Devaswom Board is presently headed by M.R. Murali, a [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] politician from [[Shoranur]].<ref name="ma2">{{cite news |title=Devaswom Board takes over Mattanur temple in Kerala's Kannur |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/devaswom-board-takes-over-mattanur-temple-in-keralas-kannur20211015041049/ |access-date=26 June 2022 |publisher=ANI News |date=26 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="td4">{{cite news |date=22 June 2019 |title='Letting non-Hindus run Hindu temples a mockery of secularism' |publisher=The Sunday Guardian Live |url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/letting-non-hindus-run-hindu-temples-mockery-secularism |access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref>

The temples are managed by a ''Devaswom Commissioner'' from [[Kozhikode]]. Under the commissioner there are five geographical divisions each headed by an ''Assistant Devaswom Commissioner'' namely;

* [[Kasaragod]] - 215 temples spread across [[Kasaragod district]] and [[Taliparamba]] taluk of [[Kannur district]].
* [[Thalassery]] - 231 temples spread across [[Vatakara]] taluk of [[Kozhikode district|Kozhikode]], [[Mananthavady]] taluk of [[Wayanad district|Wayanad]] and [[Kannur district]]
* [[Kozhikode]] - temples spread across rest of [[Kozhikode district|Kozhikode]] and [[Wayanad district]]s and [[Eranad]] taluk of [[Malappuram district|Malappuram]].
* [[Malappuram]] - nearly 350 temples spread across [[Malappuram district]], [[Ottapalam|Ottapalam taluk]], [[Chavakkad]] and [[Kodungallur]] taluks of [[Thrissur district]].
* [[Palakkad]] - 346 temples in [[Palakkad district]] and one in [[Fort Kochi]]
There are nearly 1401 temples and over 6,000 employees under Malabar Devaswom Board. The temples under board are categorised based on revenue.

* Super Grade - above 4 crore revenue - 10 temples and 500 staff.
* First Grade - between 75 lakhs and 4 crore revenue - 25 temples and around 1000 staff.
* Second Grade - between 25 lakhs and 75 lakhs - 40 temples and around 250 staff.
* Third Grade - 10 - 25 lakhs revenue.
* Fourth Grade - less than 10 lakhs revenue.

== Roles and Responsibilities ==

Roles and Responsibilities of Temple Development Board includes the following:<ref name="ma1">{{cite news |title=Malabar Devaswom Board approves five-fold salary hike for temple staff |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/malabar-devaswom-board-approves-five-fold-salary-hike-for-temple-staff-1.6376485 |access-date=26 June 2022 |publisher=English.Mathrubhumi |date=20 January 2022 |language=en}}</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.

== List of famous temples maintained by the Board ==
Following is the list of famous temples maintained by the Board:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Sl No || Temple || Division ||Taluk
|-
|1
|[[Rajarajeshwara Temple]]
| rowspan="7" |Kasaragod
|[[Taliparamba]]
|-
|2
|Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple, Payyannur
|[[Taliparamba]]
|-
|3
|[[Muthappan Temple]], [[Parassinikkadavu]]
|[[Taliparamba]]
|-
|4
|Srimath Anantheshwara Temple, Manjeshwar
|[[Manjeshwaram Taluk|Manjeshwaram]]
|-
|5
|[[Ananthapura Lake Temple]]
|[[Manjeshwaram Taluk|Manjeshwaram]]
|-
|6
|[[Madhur Temple]]
|[[Kasaragod taluk|Kasaragod]]
|-
|7
|Trikkannad Tryambakeshwara Temple
|[[Kasaragod taluk|Kasaragod]]
|-
|8
|[[Madayi Kavu]]
| rowspan="5" |Thalassery
|Kannur
|-
|9
|[[Peralasseri|Peralasseri Temple]]
|Kannur
|-
|10
|[[Kottiyoor Temple]]
|Thalaserry
|-
|11
|[[Lokanarkavu Temple]]
|Vatakara
|-
|12
|[[Thirunelli Temple]]
|[[Mananthavady]]
|-
|13
|[[Chinakkathoor Temple]]
|Palakkad
|[[Ottapalam]]
|-
|14
|[[Valayanad Devi Temple]]
|Kozhikode
|[[Kozhikode]]
|-
|15
|[[Mammiyoor Temple]]
| rowspan="7" |Malappuram
|Chavakkad
|-
|16
|[[Thirumandhamkunnu Temple]]
|[[Perinthalmanna]]
|-
|17
|[[Kadampuzha Devi Temple]]
|[[Tirur Taluk|Tirur]]
|-
|18
|[[Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple]]
|[[Tirur Taluk|Tirur]]
|-
|19
|Thrikkandiyur Shiva Temple
|[[Tirur Taluk|Tirur]]
|-
|20
|[[Vairankode Bhagavathy Temple]]
|[[Tirur Taluk|Tirur]]
|-
|21
|[[Alattiyur Hanuman Temple]]
|[[Tirur Taluk|Tirur]]
|-
|22
|Triprangode Shiva Temple
|Malappuram
|Tirur
|}Sree Parthasarathisaradi Temple Guruvayoor

== See also ==

* [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]]
* [[Devaswom boards in Kerala]]
* [[Travancore Devaswom Board]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.malabardevaswom.kerala.gov.in/ Official Website]

[[Category:Hindu organisations based in India]]

Malabar Devaswom Board - Revision history

Singh142536 at 20:12, 26 April 2026