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Home > Kerala Temples > Introduction to Kerala Temples > Kochi (Cochin) Kochi (Cochin)The political sovereignty of the Zamorin over cochin ceased by 937 ME (1762 AD) consequent on signing the Treaty by Travancore and Cochin. The immediate impact as stated earlier was the confiscation of properties of Yogaathiri and Ooraalaars and thereby the temples managed by them came under the administration of Sarkkar (Government). Subsequently several other minor temples were also taken over by the Sarkkar on the ground of mismanagement. Thus large number of temples came under the management of the Sarkkar. However Col. Munroe, the British Resident and later appointed as Diwan of Cochin in 1812, was responsible for bringing effective controls on temples. Col. Munroe recommended that all Devaswom properties be treated as Government properties and the revenue from Devaswom merged with the general revenues of the state. Further for meeting the expenses of the temples Pathiv (ie scale of expenditure on Uthsavams, remuneration to temple staff, maintenance charges etc.) was instituted. These recommendations were accepted by the Maharaja. A committee was constituted to study its implications in 990 KE (1815). After a study of 309 Devaswoms, 179 Devaswoms in Cochin State were classified as Sarkkar Devaswoms. 61 Devaswoms were returned back to ooraalaars, and 61 Devaswoms which were getting contributions were classified as Vazhipaat Devaswoms. This was a major step by the Government which resulted in the acquisition of temple lands and interference in temple administration. All these 179 temples were known as ‘incorporated Devaswoms’ of which 24 were treated as Keezhetams (subordinate to a more important temple). Subsequently either due to mismanagement by Ooraalaars or under some other pretext some more temples were taken over by the Sarkkar though their funds kept separately. Each such Devaswom was called ‘unincorporated Devaswom’. In 1702 ME (1897) a separate Devaswom Department was formed under a Superintendent and all incorporated and un-incorporated Devaswoms were brought under it. Ten years later in 1907 these incorporated and un-incorporated Devaswoms were merged and by a later amendment in 1916 a common trust fund was constituted as an endowment. Moreover they were classified into four groups viz. Thiruvilwamama, Thrissur, Thiruvanchikulam and Trippunithura. In 1909 new executive staff like inspectors, kariakkars, muthalpitis, accountants etc were appointed. Under the Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1996, the Government took over the management of Devaswoms which were mismanaged. Such institutions were called ‘assumed Devaswoms’. The head of the Department, hitherto known as Superintendent was re-designated as Commissioner on 1st November 1926. Consequent on the integration of the princely states of Travancore and Cochin, the administration of Devaswoms in the Cochin State came under the Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) constituted on 1st August 1949 under the Articles of the Covenant entered into by the Rulers of Cochin and Travancore on 23rd june 1949. both the group Devaswoms and assumed Devaswoms were brought under the Board, first by an Ordinance and later by the Travancore – Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1950. On 16th June 1950 the Board was reconstituted again. Apart from those temples governed by the CDB a large number of private temples (known as Ooraanma temples) exist in Cochin area. Those private temples which get grant from Cochin Devaswom Board are also known as Vazhipaat Devaswoms. << back
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