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The Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple Heritage Protection Committee has held a march to the Secretariat here demanding legislation against the recent verdict of Kerala High Court, directing the state government to take over the administrative control of the ancient shrine.
Hundreds of people including the temple staff, priests and a large number of devotees took part in the march which began from the temple premises at East Fort here. The protestors wanted the government to pass a legislation to bypass the court order and restore the heritage shrine to the Travancore Royal house.
The government could take over the temple only if the royal family expressed any inconvenience to run the shrine, the office-bearers of the Committee said. Known for its boat-shaped granite tower, columns of exquisitely carved stone pillars and rows of dangling brass lamps, the grand temple has been under the upkeep of the royal house for over centuries.
While all other major temples in South Kerala were brought under control of the Travancore Devaswom Board, Sreepadmanabha temple alone was allowed to be retained under a special trust as its presiding deity of is the family deity of the royal family.
A division bench of the High Court last month had directed the government to form a trust within three months for managing the temple on the ground that the royal family had no hereditary rights over the temple. The order was passed on a private petition seeking a direction in this regard. The court also asked the government to prepare an inventory of the temple's properties.
Hundreds of people including the temple staff, priests and a large number of devotees took part in the march which began from the temple premises at East Fort here. The protestors wanted the government to pass a legislation to bypass the court order and restore the heritage shrine to the Travancore Royal house.
The government could take over the temple only if the royal family expressed any inconvenience to run the shrine, the office-bearers of the Committee said. Known for its boat-shaped granite tower, columns of exquisitely carved stone pillars and rows of dangling brass lamps, the grand temple has been under the upkeep of the royal house for over centuries.
While all other major temples in South Kerala were brought under control of the Travancore Devaswom Board, Sreepadmanabha temple alone was allowed to be retained under a special trust as its presiding deity of is the family deity of the royal family.
A division bench of the High Court last month had directed the government to form a trust within three months for managing the temple on the ground that the royal family had no hereditary rights over the temple. The order was passed on a private petition seeking a direction in this regard. The court also asked the government to prepare an inventory of the temple's properties.