Kerala High Court Upholds Ritual Purity Norms for Handling Padmanabhaswamy Temple Idol

The Kerala High Court has ruled that only persons authorised by the temple’s tantri and in a state of ritual purity may touch the principal idol at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

A Division Bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and M.B. Snehalatha stressed that courts must exercise minimal interference in spiritual and ritual matters, allowing temple customs to prevail.

The Court added that even technical experts assisting in maintenance must observe fasting (vratham) and purification (shuddhikaranam) before approaching the idol.

[R. Rajasekharan Pillai v State of Kerala & Ors.]