Pathanamthitta:Sabarimala chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru says that he will perform Suddhikalasam (purification rites) again if necessary. Rajeevaru stated this in a letter, which he submitted to the Devaswom commission.

On January 2, the chief priest of the Sabarimala temple had closed the doors of the shrine to perform Suddhikalasam after it was confirmed that two women entered the temple through the rear entrance and had darshan of Lord Ayyappa.

Devaswom board president, A Padma Kumar, came to the fore seriously criticising the thantri Rajeevaru for closing the temple and performing purification rituals. The Board president even asked the thantri to provide an explanation within 15 days. The notice had asked the thantri to appear for a hearing on January 17. 

On January 2, a massive protest was witnessed in front of the Travancore Devaswom Board office for questioning the thantri. The board alleged that they were not aware of the decision to close the temple and thus sought an explanation from the thantri. 

As the thantri did not appear before the commission, the state commission for Scheduled Caste and Tribe Commission (SC/ST) also issued a show cause notice to Sabarimala thantri for performing purification rituals.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) later provided Rajeevaru an additional time of two weeks to provide an explanation regarding purification rituals performed at the famous shrine. 

After this, the thantri sent an explanation letter to the Devaswom commission in which he stressed that at any cost, he will perform purification rites if someone violates the temple's rules and regulations.