Row over ban on entry of non-Brahmins in temple

PALAKKAD: The allegations over ban on entry of non-Brahmins to the ‘Nalambalam’ of Payyallur Sree Krishna Swami Temple in Kollengode near here would be looked into, Palakkad MP M.B. Rajesh said. He was reacting to media reports that there was an unofficial ban in temple over the entry of non-Brahmins to the ‘Nalambalam’ of the temple to offer prayers standing before the deity near the sanctum sanctorum. A news channel had carried a story by citing their sting operation which claims that non-Brahmins were allowed only to offer prayers by standing near the flag post of the temple and they were not allowed to go near the sanctum sanctorum.

“The matter will be looked into by bringing it to the notice of the devaswom minister,” the MP said. Reacting to the issue, Karimpuzha Raman, the president of Kerala Brahmana Sabha said that the temple was situated at an agraharam (Brahmin settlement) and for several years now only Brahmins were entering the ‘Nalambalam’. “It was the norm and if non-Brahmins want to enter no one will be blocked,” he told this newspaper. 

He also said that he had spoken to the temple authorities and they informed him that some persons seeking permission for shooting inside the temple with camera were denied entry and the controversy was uncalled for. It has to be noted that in the famous Kalpathi Temple in Palakkad, which is also situated inside the Brahmin settlement, all Hindus can enter the ‘nalambalam’.