Guruvayur Temple tantri asks devaswom chairman to ‘stay away’, controversy raging

GURUVAYUR: The incident of tantri asking devaswom chairman to ‘stay away’ from the ritual ceremony of bhagavathy’s kalasham at Edatharikathukavu in the temple has stoked a controversy. Devaswom chairman K B Mohandas said the incident will be discussed in the next meeting of the temple administration in the presence of the tantri. Tantri Chennas Sreekanth asked the chairman to stay away when he came to attend the ritual ceremony of bhagavathy’s kalasham at the temple.

He was asked to stay away when the function started after the ritual ceremony soon after deeparadhana. The functions were held at the temple’s vathilmadom. Mohandas was standing on the pathway of the vathilmadom. Administrative member K K Ramachandran and deputy administrator P Shankunni Raj were with the chairman. The tantri directed him to stay away when he stood a little ahead.

Soon after the function, the chairman asked the tantri why he asked him to stay away. Chennas Hari Namboothiripad while replying said he asked him to stay away so that there would be no impurity during the ceremony. The chairman said the next meet to be held on July 1st will discuss the issue and decide what has to be done. The temple tantri also the member of Devaswom Governing Council will also attend the meet and it will be discussed in the presence of the tantri.

The chairman said asking me to stay away shows his ignorance. The governing body will not interfere in the powers of the tantri but I was chosen as the representative of the public and will not permit anyone to deny the rights of them. If restrictions are imposed then it should be done in a systematic manner, he said.