Senior RSS leader Valsan Thillankeri allegedly violated the key tradition of the Sabarimala shrine by climbing the sacred 18 steps without carrying the customary irumudikkettu (sacred offerings to Lord Ayyappa) on his head.
Thillankeri, who has been camping at the Sannidhanam (shrine complex) since Monday, was seen pacifying the angry agitators following rumours that a woman had entered the shrine on Tuesday morning.
As per a centuries-old tradition, women in the age group of 10 and 50, are not allowed to trek Sabarimala. The Supreme Court on September 28 has struck down this tradition sparking off protests across Kerala.
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The fresh controversy erupted after TV channels aired visuals of the Sangh leader standing on the golden steps, leading to the sanctum sanctorum.
Thillankeri rejected the charge and said he did carry the offerings while climbing the holy steps. He, however, later told Manorama News that he regretted the incident and that he did it while trying to pacify the agitating devotees.
Tantri Kandararu Rajivararu, the head priest of the temple, said climbing the sacred steps without carrying the irumudikkettu is a violation of temple custom. Only the tantri, melsanthi and representative of the Pandalam royal family are allowed to climb the steps without irumudikkettu, he said.
On Monday Devaswom board member K.P. Sankar Das also courted controversy by climbing the sacred steps without carrying the offerings. Various outfits and devotees have demanded action against both Thillankeri and Shankar Das.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came down heavily on Thillankeri saying even the RSS leaders, who claim to be the protectors of tradition, are not obeying the temple customs. Devaswom minister Kadakampalli Surendran lashed out at the BJP, saying the saffron party has brought a goonda leader to Sabarimala for reaping political gains out of the issue.
Earlier in the morning, the hill shrine witnessed a tense showdown after about 200 frenzied devotees tried to prevent a woman pilgrim from entering the hilltop shrine suspecting her to be of menstrual age.
Lalitha Ravi (52) was later escorted by police and devotees to the shrine to offer prayers along with her other women relatives.
The Ayyappa temple opened on Monday for the second time in three weeks for a two-day special puja amid unprecedented security over apprehension of protests by those opposing the Supreme Court order allowing women of menstrual age there.
Hundreds of police personnel, including armed commandos, are keeping a tight vigil in the temple complex and nearby areas to prevent any untoward incident.
