THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, June 2, 2007: The Yogashema Sabha — the primary leadership of priests, tantris (high priests) and other Brahmin and Namboodiri bodies — has asked the Kerala government to not interfere with the customs and traditions of Kerala’s temples. The priests’ request was in response to the Temple Affairs Minister G. Sudhakaran’s statement that the government would consider legislation to allow all believers, including non-Hindus, to worship in temples. The sabha met in Thrissur in the wake of the controversy over the purification rite at the Guruvayur temple after a visit by Union minister Vayalar Ravi and his family. It decided to begin the process for a second temple entry proclamation. (Through a similar proclamation in 1936, the Maharaja of Travancore had abolished the ban on Dalits entering the temple).
Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Rahul Eswar, grandson of the Sabarimala tantri who took the initiative for the conclave, said around 80 per cent of the members favored reforms in tune with the changing times. “The majority of them agreed to the reforms known as the Second Temple Entry Proclamation. The meeting decided to initiate dialogue and debate for this,” he said. Rahul also said that Sudhakaran, who did not believe in temple customs and belief, had no role to play in this. “The government will bring in a law after consulting all concerned. It feels all believers have to be allowed darshan in temples,” he said. The sources quoted participants at the meeting as saying: “What business do the Marxists, who are known atheists, have to fiddle with our customs?” Some members even demanded the minister’s resignation.