TDB justifies denial of entry to Rahul Easwar

SABARIMALA: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president M Rajagopalan Nair has justified the denial of permission to Thantri Kandararu Maheswararu’s grandson Rahul Easwar to enter the sreekovil of Lord Ayyappa temple. Addressing newsmen at the Sannidhanam Devaswom Guest House on Wednesday, Rajagopalan Nair questioned the claim over the right of Thantri in permitting the person of his choice inside the sreekovil.Rajagopalan Nair said in clear terms that the final word on giving permission to enter the sreekovil was vested with the Devaswom authorities.He said the Devaswom manual clearly explains the powers of the TDB in exercising overall control over the melsanthi and thantri. Nair said Thantri Maheswararu knows the powers of the TDB in the case of giving permission to a santi to assist him.For example, Thantri Maheswararu approached the TDB a few months ago seeking permission to allow son Kandararu Mohanararu to assist him in pooja at Sabarimala. “However, TDB refused the request as there were allegations against Mohanararu ,” he said. “The Division Bench of the Kerala High Court in its vedict too upheld the TDB decision,” he said. Moreover, the mutual agreement among the three Thazhamon thantri families, out of court in 1978, stated that only the sons and their generations would be the successors of thantris in Sabarimala.Hence, the thantri should not have created a scene by asking his daughter’s son to accompany him to the sreekovil of the temple.