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Home > Kerala Temples > Introduction to Kerala Temples > Classification of Temples Classification of TemplesMajority of important temples in the state are governed by statutory bodies like HR & CE, CDB or TDB. From these classifications the temples owned by private individuals and trustees falling outside the ambit of the administrative control of statutory bodies of Government are left out, as most of their administrators are reluctant to provide their financial position correctly to any outside enquiring agencies. The basis of classification of temples in 1990 adopted by statutory bodies differs considerably. The HR & CE which has administrative control on most of the temples in the Malabar region classifies the temples into seven grades based on annual income of the temples. (Grade I: Rs 1,00,000 and above per annum; Grade II: Rs 60,000 – 99,999; Grade III; Rs 20,000 – 59,999; Grade IV: Rs 15,000 – 19,999; Grade V: Rs 10,000-14999 Grade VI: Rs 7,000 – 9,999 and Grade VII: Less than Rs 7,000). The Cochin Devaswom Board’s classification of temples is not based on any strict criteria. Income, importanceand convenience are taken as the criteria for classification of temples into groups A and B. however, in appointing priests (Saanthikkars) different groupings are adopted as per the directions of the Supreme Court. Under Travancore Devaswom Board, the criteria of classification are generally based on expenditure viz. Major Class I (Rs 10,000 and above), Major Class II (Rs 5,000 – 9,999), Major Class III (Rs 1000 – 4,999), Minor (Rs 100-999) and petty (less than rs 100). Besides these there are Personal Deposit Devaswoms also. Major temples are those in which all the prescribed poojas are performed and which own landed properties and maintain detailed accounts of the income and expenditure (ezhuthitheeruva). They comprise three classes based on expenditure in pathiv per annum. Minor temples are those in which two poojas are performed in a day (morning and evening) and which have landed property and no detailed account of expenses (without Ezhuthitheeruva or Ezhuthitheeruva-illattha). Petty temples are those in which only one pooja is performed and these are maintained out of fixed funds. In personal Deposit Devaswoms, expenditure is met from the savings of those temples for which separate accounts are maintained and not included in the accounts of Devaswom fund. In the report on Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards by the High Power Commission, the following suggestion is given on the classification of temples (Major, Minor, Petty etc) under Devaswom Boards. "It is essential to prepare an accurate list of temples under the (TDB) Board. While doing so, it is advisable to change the classification adopted over 150 years ago based on usage in English Language. The following classification may be more appropriate:
Whatever the original meaning and usage of petty, it has nowadays a negative connotation." The above suggestion of the High Power Commission is very valid. However, the commission did not spell out the principles to be adopted in classifying temples by Statutory Boards and Departments are to be dispensed with and fresh classification based on antiquity, historical associations, architectural importance, number of praakaaras, number of poojas held and number of devotees, has to be adopted, which is more appropriate and reasonable. Accordingly the temples in Kerala can be classified into five groups and fifteen sub-groups as per the following criteria.
No finality is claimed in these classification or groupings and scholars and researchers can further modify or discard them. The very purpose of these classifications is to correlate poojas done in a temple with its structural characteristics apart from number of devotees, antiquity, historical association etc. so that a new approach on this topic is introduced.
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