By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : The famed Sri Krishna Temple at Guruvayoor Monday came in for fresh criticism over the purification rituals carried out by it last month after the visit of Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and his family – this time by Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan.
Speaking at the launch function here of an exhaustive directory on prominent social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, the chief minister wanted to know what the temple authorities had done with all the offerings made by Ravi over the years.
"Isn't it pertinent to ask what has happened to all the offerings made by Ravi and his family to the temple," Achuthanandan lashed out.
On May 19, the temple 'thantri' or priest had carried out a "purification" ceremony of the premises after conducting the 'annaprasan', or the ceremonial first rice feeding of Ravi's six-month-old grandson Rajiv Krishna. Ravi's wife Mercy Ravi, a former Congress legislator in Kerala assembly, is a Christian by birth and the temple is closed to non-Hindus.
The chief minister told Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam general secretary Vellapali Natesan that untouchability still existed in temples.
In reply, Natesan said that Achuthanandan should frame new laws for allowing all devotees entry into temples.
"We all wish that this happens under you and such rules and regulations should be done away with," said Natesan.
Vayalar Ravi, who received the first copy of the directory of Sree Narayana Guru from Achuthanandan, said temple authorities carried out such kinds of discrimination in the name of god.
"It is unfortunate that in the name of god people are being sidelined; this in itself is against what god would have liked to happen," said Ravi.
Meanwhile, at another function where top Congress leaders were present, eminent social critics and writer Sukumar Azhikode said that when the controversy broke out at the Guruvayoor temple, it should have been the Congress leaders who should have reacted first.
The directory is being brought out by media house Kerala Kaumudi.
Sree Narayana Guru, or Gurudeva (1856-1928) as he is fondly called, revolted against casteism and worked on propagating new values of freedom and social equality. He worked towards transforming society and his most popular message was "one caste one religion one god for mankind".