Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati has declined to visit the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram till he is granted official permission to enter the sanctum sanctorum to offer prayers.
Priests and temple officials called on the seer at the Mutt premises on Thursday night and offered their apologies for denying him entry to the temple.
They said he could not be allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum without the permission of the Commissioner or the Joint Commissioner, though he was entitled to perform poojas, as per temple manuals, temple sources said.
The temple executive officer told members of Hindu organisations that he was unable to get clearance from higher authorities on Friday, despite faxing a letter to them.
The sources said the seer had declined a request from the priests to visit the temple on Friday, saying he would not do so unless official clearance was given.
Meanwhile, the seer, who was expected to visit the temple at around 8 am on Friday, left for an undisclosed place, after having a bath at the 'Agni Theertham' tank and performing pooja of the 'Samudhra Raja'.
The seer, who entered the temple on Thursday after a bath was stopped in front of the sanctum sanctorum by temple joint commissioner.
{{/usCountry}}The seer, who entered the temple on Thursday after a bath was stopped in front of the sanctum sanctorum by temple joint commissioner.
{{/usCountry}}The official told the seer that the Commisioner of Hindu Charitable and Religious Endowments, which administers temples, had given instructions not to allow him inside.