RAMESWARAM: Amid high drama, the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, on Friday left Rameswaram without performing puja at the sanctum sanctorum of the Ramanathaswamy temple.

For the second day in a row, he was not allowed into the sanctum sanctorum. On Thursday, the temple authorities denied him permission to enter the sanctum sanctorum, but a group of priests met the Acharya at the Sankara Mutt here in the evening and apologised for the `unexpected incident.'

They said that he could perform puja at the sanctum sanctorum at 8 a.m. on Friday.

Following the assurance, the Acharya, along with his followers, took a dip in Agnitheertham early on Friday and waited for more than three hours at the Mutt. However, no one from the temple visited him till 9.30 a.m.

Meanwhile, a strong posse of policemen was deployed in front of the Mutt and around the temple.

A large number of devotees gathered in front of the Mutt. This caused anxiety among his followers. Soon, a group of temple priests met him and expressed its inability to allow him inside the sanctum sanctorum.

The Acharya left Rameswaram along with his followers after handing over a letter to R. Subramanian, Joint Commissioner of the temple.

In it, the mutt administration said a formal letter was given to the temple authorities on Thursday informing them of the Acharya's intention to perform Ganga puja.

As there was no response, the Acharya left Rameswaram.

A. Pitchai of the Mutt said it was unfortunate that the Acharya, who successfully conducted the `Kumbabishekam' of the temple a few years ago, could not perform puja in the `moolasthanam.'

Sentiments of Hindus hurt: Venkaiah

Chennai Special Correspondent writes:

The denial of permission to Sri Jayendra Saraswathi to enter the sanctum sanctorum hurt the sentiments of Hindus, Bharatiya Janata Party vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu, told mediapersons in Chennai.

Mr. Naidu said it was the tradition to allow the Kanchi Acharyas inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

In a statement, V.S. Chandralekha, State president of the Janata Party, criticised the State Government for attempting to "destroy the religious and cultural traditions" of Hindus. "Jayalalithaa [Chief Minister], who has been trying to damage the reputation of the Kanchi Mutt, will be taught a fitting lesson in the coming elections," Ms. Chandralekha said.

V. Murali, State coordinator of the Federation of Hindu Organisations, said the incident smacked of arrogance of the administration.

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