| Type: | Trust |
| Purpose: | Management of 1300 temples |
| Headquarters: | Kozhikode |
| Location: | Malabar Devaswom Board,Housefed Complex,Eranhippalam PO.,Kozhikode - 673006. |
| Region: | Kerala |
| Leader Title: | Chairman |
| Leader Name: | Sri.M.R.Murali |
| Leader Title2: | Executive Officer |
Malabar Devaswom Board is a statutory and Independent body created for the governing and management of nearly 1340 temples in South Malabar and North Malabar assigned to it.[1] The board came into existence in its present form on 2 October 2008 following the Madras H.R & C.E (Amendment) Act, 2008 by Kerala Legislative Assembly.[2]
Till Pre-British era temple management was with local members of town. Temple was a place of many cultural activities and social development place with rest houses, cow dwelling places, community halls etc. In Northern Kerala most temples were controlled by aristocratic families with feudal background.[3]
With the passing of Madras Regulation Act in the year 1817, temples were brought under the control of East India Company,a corporate organisation. However, from 1925, temples were brought under government control with the passing of State Religious and Charitable Endowments Act. Under this Act, the state governments exercised power for the formation of Temple Development Boards for major temples with the members from local city. The concept of temple included its premises and wealth and Temple Development Boards for many temples in India are created for the maintenance and governing of the affairs of temple.[4] Thus the temples under Malabar District came under Madras H.R & C.E Act 1926.
After States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the temples in erstwhile Malabar District excluding Lakshadweep and including Kasaragod taluk of South Canara governed by Madras H.R & C.E Act 1926 came under the control of Government of Kerala.[5] The Malabar Devaswom Board came into being in 2008, firstly through an ordinance and subsequently through the amendment of the act.
Temple Development Board includes Chairman,and seven other members appointed by State Government.[6] Malabar Devaswom Board is presently headed by M.R. Murali, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) politician from Shoranur.[7] [8]
The temples are managed by a Devaswom Commissioner from Kozhikode. Under the commissioner there are five geographical divisions each headed by an Assistant Devaswom Commissioner namely;
Roles and Responsibilities of Temple Development Board includes the following:[9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
Following is the list of famous temples maintained by the Board:
| Sl No | Temple | Division | Taluk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rajarajeshwara Temple | Kasaragod | Taliparamba |
| 2 | Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple, Payyannur | Taliparamba | |
| 3 | Muthappan Temple, Parassinikkadavu | Taliparamba | |
| 4 | Srimath Anantheshwara Temple, Manjeshwar | Manjeshwaram | |
| 5 | Ananthapura Lake Temple | Manjeshwaram | |
| 6 | Madhur Temple | Kasaragod | |
| 7 | Trikkannad Tryambakeshwara Temple | Kasaragod | |
| 8 | Madayi Kavu | Thalassery | Kannur |
| 9 | Peralasseri Temple | Kannur | |
| 10 | Kottiyoor Temple | Thalaserry | |
| 11 | Lokanarkavu Temple | Vatakara | |
| 12 | Thirunelli Temple | Mananthavady | |
| 13 | Chinakkathoor Temple | Palakkad | Ottapalam |
| 14 | Valayanad Devi Temple | Kozhikode | Kozhikode |
| 15 | Mammiyoor Temple | Malappuram | Chavakkad |
| 16 | Thirumandhamkunnu Temple | Perinthalmanna | |
| 17 | Kadampuzha Devi Temple | Tirur | |
| 18 | Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple | Tirur | |
| 19 | Trikandiyur Shiva Temple | Tirur | |
| 20 | Vairankode Bhagavathy Temple | Tirur | |
| 21 | Alattiyur Hanuman Temple | Tirur | |