THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travancore Devaswom Board has found serious lapse in the tantri’s action of shutting the temple to do ‘purification’ pooja following women entry at Sabarimala on Wednesday. Tantri violated the Supreme Court verdict and did not consult the action with the devaswom board. Devaswom board will seek an explanation from Kandararu Rajeevaru regarding this matter and if the explanation is not satisfactory, proper action will be taken. The explanation was sought by devaswom board commissioner.

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran had said that tantri shut the temple without consulting the devaswom board and tantri may have to give an explanation in the court. Even if the board was consulted, closing the temple is contempt of court, clarified the minister. Meantime, some advocates have informed that tantri’s action will be questioned in the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The Sabarimala temple in Kerala was shut on Wednesday after two women from the hitherto banned age group prayed there and was reopened an hour later after the priests performed "purification rituals".

The dramatic pre-dawn entry by the two women, Bindu and Kanaka Durga, aided by policemen in civilian clothes led to angry reactions from opposition parties.

Kantararu Rajeeveru, the tantri, said the temple closed around 10.30 a.m. and opened an hour later.

Bindu and Kanaka Durga, who said they had 'darshan' at 3.30 a.m., had been prevented on December 24 by predominantly male pilgrims from entering the temple.

Rahul Eashwar, a member of the temple tantri family, earlier said that "corrective rituals" would have to be done. He called their entry "most unfortunate".

Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan said the tantri had no right to close the temple.

"This is a challenge to the judiciary. The government only did its role in upholding the Supreme Court directive," Jayarajan, considered the number two in the cabinet, told journalists.

"This is a victory for women's rights. Women have entered Sabarimala temple earlier too," he added.