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Home > Temples of Kerala > keezzh-saanthis keezzh-saanthisIn small temples there may be no keezh-saanthikkars. Wherever they are appointed they have some special duties and responsibilities as enumerated below, depending on customs, manners and system of poojas in the temple.
All these indicate that keezh-saanthi has also a pivotal role in priesthood. The general classification of kaaraanma and non-kaaraanma requires a little more elaboration particularly in respect of remumeration. The Devaswom Hand book of Travancore gives an idea as to how the modes of tenure of saanthikkars are fixed
Atiyara mentioned above is a fee levied from the holder of the service in consideration of the responsibility of the post. The amount of atiyara may be fixed or variable from time to time. If the atiyara is for life-time it is known as purushaantha-atiyara. In other cases it may be for a fixed term of years. It is further stated in the order that 'the posts of non-kaaraanma-saanthis which have no fixed atiyara are usually put to auction and knocked down to the persons who bid for the biggest amount of atiyara.' This direction of auction, which was introduced in Travancore in 1911 still persists in some temples in appointing Mel-saanthis. Similar situations with slight modifications persist in other parts of the State also. The result is that it has added a pecuniary element to the noble profession of priesthood. The higher bidders naturally are more interested in making money to compensate the amount shed by them than in performing the duties with devotion and concentration. All these indicate that the sanctity of the noble profession is getting eroded by the method introduced about 85 years ago. It is,high time to have a rethinking about the whole system and is advisable to dispense with auctioning of priesthood.
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