PARAVOOR: Paravoor Sreedharan Thanthrikal, 86, the first non-Brahmin thantri in the tradition of Sree Narayana Guru, passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Thursday.
The cremation will be held on the premises of his house at KMK Junction here at 9 am on Friday. Thanthrikal was admitted to the hospital after his condition beacame serious on Monday. He died at 12 20 pm on Thursday. Thousands of people from all walks of life paid homage to the departed at his residence.
An authority on Thantric System
Thanthrikal was an authority on astrology and thantric system having contributed immensely to the fields of astrology and thantric rituals for more than five decades.
He held the position of thantri of more than 200 temples and consecrated the idols in many temples. He was also the first priest from the Ezhava community to perform Sahasra Kalasam.
Thanthrikal was the main celebrant of Sahasra Kalasam held at various temples, including the Palarivattom Hariharasutha temple, Kozhikode Sree Kandeswara temple, Thalassery Jagannatha temple, Palluruthy Bhavaniswari temple, Nayarambalam Subramaniaswamy temple, Ernakulam Ayyappankavu temple, Moothakunnam Sree Narayana Mangalam temple and Cherai Gowriswara temple.
He was the main celebrant at the Kodi Archana at the Kozhikode Sreekandeswara temple.His advice was always sought by scholars across the country during construction of temples.Thanthrikal proved that one can become a Brahmin by his deeds also. He was the recipient of several awards, including the Amrutha Keerthi Puraskar, Pavakulangara Award and the Swamy Mrudanandaji Memorial Adhyatma Puraskar.
He was lauded by Kanchi Kamakoti Jayendra Saraswathi Swamikal. Jayendra Saraswathi had draped Thanthrikal with a ponnada after he emerged the only one to answer the questions put forward by the scholars who took part in the Vidwal Sadas at the Guruvayur Parthasarathi temple.
Thanthrikal also provided solutions to various issues related to the temple. The controversy over the proposal to widen the Holy Steps at the Sabarimala was settled by the HC after hearing the version of Sreedharan Thanthrikal. Paravoor Sreedharan Thanthrikal participated in the Ashtamangala Devaprasnam at Sabarimala, Guruvayur, Vaikom, Chottanikkara, Kadambuzha and Kodungalloor temples.
Thantrikal heralded reformation: Kummanam
Kochi: Paravoor Sreedharan Thantrikal had won wide acclaim for his thorough knowledge of astrology and the Vedas, Hindu Aikya Vedi general secretary Kummanam Rajashekharan has said. The thantri touched the lives of many who approached him with his ability to throw light on the mysteries of astrology to the commonm an. The Thantrikal was responsible in heralding reformation and change in the inequalities that existed in the performance of poojas, Kummanam said.
At the meeting of astrologers and vedic scholars held at Paliyam in 1985, the Thantrikal played a crucial role in drafting a proclamation which was acceptable to all. He was in the forefront of the thantric scholars who extolled the vitues of social equality at the Vishala Hindu Conference held in 1982.
K V Thomas condoles death
Kochi: Union Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas has said that Paravoor Sreedharan Thanthrikal was the last word in astrological and Vedic forums.Thantrikal earned a top name in thantric, Vedic and astrological fields, the minister said and added that he had performed important rituals in more than 3,000 temples. The minister recollected his close friendship with the Thanthrikal and added that he was humility personified.
