The non-Hindus will have to wait for a ‘darshan’ in south India’s famous Guruvayoor Sri Krishna temple.
Taking a contrary view of the Yogashema Sabha (apex body of priests and other Brahmin bodies), the high priest of the temple Chenas Raman Namboodiripad, who is considered the final say in Guruvayoor temple customs, has decided to keep the temple rituals intact. With this, the much-hyped talk of a second temple entry proclamation has suffered a serious setback.
An emergency meeting of the tantri (high priest) family and other priests held the view that there was no immediate reason to change the age-old temple customs. Talking to newsmen after the temple core committee meeting (Paramparya Shetra Achara Anusthana Samiti) the spokesman of the tantri family Kizhiyedam Raman Namboodiri said Union Minister Vayalar Ravi’s son should not have entered the temple.
“As per the existing temple rules the ‘punyaham’ (purification rite) is most appropriate. He should not have entered the temple to avoid such a controversy,” he said. Coming down heavily on the Yogashema Sabha for its recent ‘sweeping statements,’ the spokesman said the committee would boycott the Sabha meetings if it is convened only to discuss the temple customs.
However, the core committee said it won’t mind if the government enacts a law allowing all non-Hindu believers to the temple. In its May 28 meeting, the Sabha had decided to initiate reform process in all temples including Guruvayoor.
{{/usCountry}}However, the core committee said it won’t mind if the government enacts a law allowing all non-Hindu believers to the temple. In its May 28 meeting, the Sabha had decided to initiate reform process in all temples including Guruvayoor.
{{/usCountry}}Terming it a Second Temple Entry Proclamation (in 1936 the Maharaja of Travancore enacted an edict removing the ban on untouchable entering temples. With this all temple doors were open to all Hindus), it had decided to start talks to evolve a consensus.