Amid the prevailing tensions over the entry of women from all age groups in Kerala’s Sabarimala temple, the custodians of the temple, the erstwhile royal family of Pandalam and the high priests have hardened their stands.
Pandalam Palace Trust has written a letter to the functionaries of the Sabarimala temple asking them to shut down the temple if any ritual was broken.
The letter addressed to the executive and the administrative officers of the Sabarimala Devaswom, said that if anything happens at the temple against the rituals, it must be shut down.
Following this the temple’s chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru said he will shut the shrine and hand over the keys to management if women in the menstruating age climbed up the 18 steps to the temple.
We have decided to lock the temple and handover the keys & leave. I stand with the devotees. I do not have any other option: Kandararu Rajeevaru, #SabarimalaTemple head priest #Kerala (file pic) pic.twitter.com/6LilPOx9qr
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018
While appealing to women of menstrual age not to come to Sabarimala, Rajeevaru said he stands with the protesting devotees and cannot let the rituals be broken.
Rajeevaru made the comment earlier in the day while two women, a Telangana based journalist and an activist from Kerala were on their way to the shrine
Following the priest’s statement to shut the temple, the police which had accompanied the two women convinced them to climb down the hill.
Earlier the government had tried reaching out to the royal family and the priests to reach a consensus on allowing women in the temple but failed to reach an agreement.
Sasikumar Varma, president of the Pandalam Palace Coordination Committee, had said that royal family should not be blamed if devotees block the way of women pilgrims who come to Sabarimala.
Both the royal family and the high priests have been from the beginning opposing women entry in the temple, which they say are against the rituals.
Source : India Times
