The court affirmed that the Tantri's decision is final in religious matters, allowing the Guruvayoor Devaswom Managing Committee to shift the 'Illam Nira' ceremony venue without violating statutory provisions.

JUDGMENT :

Muralee Krishna, J.

1. The issue arises for consideration in this writ petition is as to whether the ’Illam Nira’ ceremony at Sree Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple is a religious ceremony or an offering (Vazhipadu) and whether Ext.R1(a) decision dated 07.08.2024 of the 1^st respondent Guruvayoor Devaswom Managing Committee to shift ’Illam Nira’ ceremony from the Namaskara Mandapam to the area near the flag mast (Kodimaram) of the temple is to be interfered with by this Court by exercising the extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India?

2. The petitioners, who are the male members of Puzhakkara Chennas Mana, the Tantri family of Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple have filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus commanding the respondents not to alter the venue of ’Illam Nira’ ceremony from Namaskara Mandapam to any other location and to ensure that the religious custom, rituals, traditional rites and ceremonies, poojas, practices and usage in the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna temple are not altered or caused to be altered.

3. Going by the averments in the writ petition, Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, known as the Dwarka of the South, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and to the young form of Lord Krishna. Guruvayoor temple’s unique ’Acharams’ (traditions), including daily rituals and poojas, were formulated by Adi Sankaracharya under Bhagavan’s guidance. These Kshetra- Acharams are strictly followed without any deviation. The absolute purity of the Vedic tradition is the hallmark of the Guruvayoor temple. According to the petitioners, Guruvayoor Sree Krishna temple is the only temple in Kerala, wherein rituals, ceremonies, Pooja Sambradayas and pooja timings are streamlined by Adi Sankaracharya, and Pooja Sambradayas are religiously and systematically observed. It is believed that any disturbance or deviation from the rituals, poojas and ceremonies will impair the W.P.(C)No.28969 of 2024 6 manifestations of the divine force or Chaitanya of Guruvayoor Temple. The 3^rd respondent, being the senior most member of the family, is the present Tantri of Guruvayoor temple and an Ex officio member in the Guruvayoor Devaswom Managing Committee.

3.1. It is further pleaded by the petitioners in the writ petition that ’Illam Nira/Nira Puthari’ ceremony is a very important ritual and an established custom in the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple from time immemorial. The devotees will bring the first yield of paddy in the form of rice bran bundle (Nelkathir) to the temple and dedicate the same to the deity by placing it in front of the eastern entrance of the temple. From there, the rice bran bundles will be taken to the temple by the priest and place it in Namaskara Mandapam. After the performance of special ’Mahalakshmi Pooja’ by the melsanthi in the Namaskara Mandapam, the rice bran bundle w