After Kerala, temple purification row in TN

Posted online: Monday, June 25, 2007 at 1448 hours IST
Updated: Monday, June 25, 2007 at 1921 hours IST

Rameswaram (TN), June 25: Authorities of the famous Sri Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram performed an "atonement pooja" after the local MLA, Hasan Ali, entered into it, temple sources said.

The Ramanathapuram Municipality Vice Chairman M Rajamani said as a local MLA, Hasan Ali wanted to see for himself the cracks in the temple's East Tower on Saturday and report to the State Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Minister K R Periyakaruppan.

Temple authorities performed "parikara pooja" (cleaning and atonement pooja) on Sunday.

The BJP's local unit, upset over the entry, has put up posters condemning the entry of the MLA, a non-Hindu.

The VHP and Shiv Sena also condemned the MLA's entry. Rajamani said the MLA had earlier participated in the "Samabandhi Bhojan" (feast) held in the temple.

Temple officials said former Puducherry Chief Minister Farooq Marackier had entered the temple once and the then temple priest Kalidass Mahanth filed a case in the Supreme court as the HR and CE rules and 'agamas' of the temple prevented non-Hindus from entering the temple.

Farooq Marackier had then apologised before the Court, officials said, adding the incident took place about 20 years ago. The "atonement pooja" was performed then also.

Last month, temple authorities of the Guruvayur temple in Thrissur district of Kerala conducted a purification ceremony after the visit of Union Minister Vayalar Ravi's son,

Ravikrishna, on the ground that his mother hailed from a Christian family. Ravikrishna had gone to the temple for the 'choroonu' (first rice feeding) of his son on May 18.

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