Kandararu Brahmadathan Appointed Chief Priest of Sabarimala Temple for One-Year Term
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Saturday (July 25, 2026) decided to appoint Kandararu Brahmadathan of the Thazhamon Madhom as the Tantri (Chief Priest) of the Sabarimala Temple. The decision was taken at a TDB meeting attended by board president K. Jayakumar and members K. Raju and P.D. Santhosh Kumar.
Mr. Brahmadathan, son of former tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, will hold the position for one year from Chingam 1 of Malayalam era 1202 (August 17, 2026) to Karkkadakam 31, 1202 (August 16, 2027).
Earlier this month, citing ill health, Mr. Rajeevaru had requested that he be relieved as the Tantri. Mr. Rajeevaru also faces charges in the Sabarimala gold theft case. In his letter to the TDB, he had requested that his son succeed him as Sabarimala Tantri.
The Kerala High Court had directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to decide on the appointment of Mr. Brahmadathan as the Tantri. A Division Bench of Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar had asked the board to inform the court about the Tantri position by July 27.
