The Thanthris in a Kerala temple are authorised to not only conduct the pujas at the temple but also decide how the rituals should be conducted. In special cases, they decide which offerings the Deities will accept. Normally the temple accepts all offerings required to conduct the daily pujas at the temple, like flowers, garlands, nivedyam (edible offerings), oil for lighting the lamps, items required for decorating the Deity like a crown, ornaments, dress and the items required for bathing the idols.
Some families of devotees living near the temple have been collecting flowers and garlands for the temple daily, with the approval of the Thanthris. They had also taken on the responsibility of cleaning the environs. Some other families have taken on the work of beating the drums during pujas. The Thanthris appoint the pujaris at the temple and instruct them on how to conduct the pujas and to recite Moolamanthram..
Some people say that in the olden days Pujas were conducted by non-Brahmins also. It is said that a caste called "Kurup" used to do the Bhadrakali Puja at temples, as part of the Kalampattu ritual. In the Kalampattu ritual, the Kurup draws a fine figure of Bhadrakali (called kalam) on the floor using coloured organic powders (made of powdered rice, green leaves, etc). He then sings the glories of Bhadrakali (or the particular Devi of the temple). After the puja, the Kurup erases the kalam with the proper rituals. Earlier the Kurups themselves used to do this puja, but now it has passed into the hands of the Brahmins.
Recently "Mata" Amritanandamayi organised pujas in some temples by her lady disciples. Puja by women(Bhrahmin or Nonbhrahmin) may actually save many temples which are now without daily poojas due to either paucity of brahmins (born to inheritors of Brahminism) or due to high demands of salary by them due to shortage of Brahmins.
Some families of devotees living near the temple have been collecting flowers and garlands for the temple daily, with the approval of the Thanthris. They had also taken on the responsibility of cleaning the environs. Some other families have taken on the work of beating the drums during pujas. The Thanthris appoint the pujaris at the temple and instruct them on how to conduct the pujas and to recite Moolamanthram..
Some people say that in the olden days Pujas were conducted by non-Brahmins also. It is said that a caste called "Kurup" used to do the Bhadrakali Puja at temples, as part of the Kalampattu ritual. In the Kalampattu ritual, the Kurup draws a fine figure of Bhadrakali (called kalam) on the floor using coloured organic powders (made of powdered rice, green leaves, etc). He then sings the glories of Bhadrakali (or the particular Devi of the temple). After the puja, the Kurup erases the kalam with the proper rituals. Earlier the Kurups themselves used to do this puja, but now it has passed into the hands of the Brahmins.
Recently "Mata" Amritanandamayi organised pujas in some temples by her lady disciples. Puja by women(Bhrahmin or Nonbhrahmin) may actually save many temples which are now without daily poojas due to either paucity of brahmins (born to inheritors of Brahminism) or due to high demands of salary by them due to shortage of Brahmins.
