Guruvayur Temple | Hold Udayasthamana Pooja On Ekadashi As Last Year, Supreme Court Directs Devaswom Board

The Supreme Court today(October 8) directed the administration and the Chief Thantri(priest) of the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple to continue conducting the Udayasthamana Pooja as has been performed as per earlier practice on Vrishchikam Ekadasi, falling this year on November 21.

The Court reiterated a similar order that it had passed last year on October 25 against the decision of the temple administration cancelling the pooja on Ekadashi due to crowd management concerns. 

It may be recalled that a dispute arose after the temple administration, supported by the Thantri decided to forgo the Udayasthamana Pooja on Vrishchikam Ekadasi, citing difficulties in crowd management and a desire to allow more devotees time for darshan. This was challenged by the temple's hereditary priestly family, contending that the decision violated age-old custom, as the concerned pooja is conducted on Ekasadi to increase the divinity of the deity.

Against this decision, the family came before the Kerala High Court, but their plea was dismissed on grounds that the Thantri is the final authority in matters relating to religious and ceremonial practice under the Guruvayur Devaswom Act, 1978. Vide order dated December 11, 2204, it granted interim relief stating that the pooja should go on as per the fixed schedule. 

The next year, a similar plea was raised citing crowd management issues, against which the Court reiterated that the pooja should be carried out on Ekadasi.

This year again the administration came before the Supreme Court, and the matter was heard by a bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Vipul M Pancholi. Senior Advocates VV Giri(for Thantri) and Aryama Sundaram(Devaswom Board) reiterated the difficulties faced by them in managing the crowd. Temple's hereditary priestly family was represented by Senior Advocate CS Vaidyanathan.

 Sundaram told the bench that more than 1 lac people come on Ekadasi, including those pilgrims who come after visiting the Sabarimala temple. He stated that the larger issue of whether the pooja should be conducted on Ekadashi or not can be kept aside for now. "I am saying that this pooja can be conducted on any day. But on that day, Devaswom takes over on Ekadashi because there are so many more people involved."

Giri, supporting the arguments, stated that the pooja is an offering by the devotees and not a ritual therefore, it can be performed on any date. "It's an offering; mandatory rituals have to be conducted [every week]. In past years, the Udayasthamana puja has not been conducted on Saturday or holidays. If I want to do it in the temple, I probably will get booking after 10 years. It's an offering, I have to book it in the name...When it was going on without any restriction, the administration found that the devotees on normal days are around 15,000 but on holidays and Saturdays are 25,000-30,000."

Justice Kumar responded that he is aware of the rush, as he himself has stood in a queue for 7 hours. He then asked: "Are you going to completely stop Udayasthamana?"

The respondents stated that is not the case, their only limited request is that the pooja may be conducted on any other day but not on Ekadasi.

However, the Court stated that the pooja will continue to be conducted as it has been based on customs and traditions.

Disposing of the present application, it ordered: "Prayer sought is similar to prayer sought earlier which has been disposed of by this court on 30.10.25 by granting relief and observing as under para 6, 7 and 8.

In the light of aforesaid order passed, subject to the final outcome of the appeal that is pending by way of interim relief, we direct that Udayasthamana puja shall be continued in manner as performed as per early practice on Ekadasi falling on 21.11.26. However, we grant liberty to the board also to the tantri that Udayasthamana puja can also be performed 22.10.26 as indicated. IA is disposed of. the hearing of appeal stands expedited."