Authorities at the famed Sri Krishna Temple at Guruvayoor on Monday came in for fresh criticism over the purification rituals carried out there 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, V S wanted to know what the temple authorities had done with all the offerings made by Mr 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,” V S 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, Mr Natesan suggested 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. The directory is being brought out by media house Kerala Kaumudi.
Sree Narayana Guru,  revolted against casteism, advocating social equality.