Kandararu Rajeevaru, the tantri (chief priest) of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha temple has denied reports of him handing over duties to his son Brahmadattan. According to media reports, Brahmadattan will assume the tantri role when Sabarimala opens for rituals on August 16.
"I don't know where these reports are coming from. My son has been assisting me for quite some time. This time also he will be accompanying me,'' said Kandararu Rajeevaru. Brahmadattan has decided to ensure his full-time assistance to his father in rituals at Sabarimala temple from this year. An LLM graduate in Global environmental law from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, he quit his job at Deloitte, Hyderabad, two years ago.
"I have learnt tantric rituals from my father at a very young age. I wish to follow my family tradition and will assist my father at Sabarimala. I was with him in 2023 too,'' he said. After completing his LLB from Christ University, Bengaluru, he joined a law firm in Kottayam. He went to Glasgow for his post-graduation after 2-3 years of internship.
"I wanted to study environmental law and now it is my wish to help my father. It is not that I will take over duties as a tantri from him. I wish to carry out the duties of the tantri under my father's watchful guidance," said Brahmadattan. Tantric rights are shared between two families of Thazhamon madam at Sabarimala. Every year one from a family assumes charge as chief priest of the temple.
