RAMESWARAM, INDIA, July 15, 205: Priests and some officials of the Lord Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram have apologized to the Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi for denying him entry into the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday, but told him it would not be possible to grant permission even on Friday. The group, which called on the Seer at the Mutt premises here last night, tendered an apology, but told the Seer he could not be allowed inside without the permission of the Commissioner or the Joint Commissioner, though he was entitled to perform pujas, as per temple manuals, temple sources said. They said the Seer also declined a request from the priests to visit the temple today, saying he would not do so unless official clearance was given. Meanwhile, the Seer left for an undisclosed place, after having a bath in the tank and performing some pujas. The Seer, who entered the temple yesterday after a bath at the holy tank was stopped in front of the sanctum sanctorum in the presence of mediapersons and others accompanying him by temple joint commissioner, Subramanian. The official told the Seer the commissioner of HR and CE (Hindu charitable and religious endowments), which administers temples, had given instructions not to allow him inside.
HPI adds: None of the news reports on this incident give much explanation as to the refusal. A second report says only the King of Nepal and the Shankaracharya of Sringeri are allowed to conduct their own rituals inside the temple’s sanctum. No report indicates if the Kanchi Shankaracharya, presently under indictment for conspiracy to commit murder and out on bail, had in the past been allowed into the inner sanctum.