Authorities of the famous Sri Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram performed purification rites after local legislator, Hasan Ali, entered it, temple sources said.

The Ramanathapuram Municipality Vice Chairman M Rajamani said as a local MLA, Hasan Ali wanted to see for himself the cracks in the temple's East Tower on Saturday and report to the State Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister K R Periyakaruppan.

Temple authorities performed "parikara pooja" (cleaning and atonement rites) yesterday.

The BJP's local unit, upset over the entry, has put up posters condemning the entry of the MLA, a non-Hindu.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Shiv Sena also condemned the MLA's entry.

Rajamani said the MLA had earlier participated in the Samabandhi Bhojan (community feast) held in the temple.

Temple officials said former Puducherry chief minister Farooq Marackier had entered the temple once and the then temple priest Kalidass Mahanth filed a case in the Supreme court,as the HR and CE rules and 'agamas' of the temple prevented non-Hindus from entering the temple. Farooq Marackier had then apologised before the court, officials said, adding the incident took place about 20 years ago. The 'atonement pooja' was performed then also, they said.

Last month, temple authorities at Guruvayur in Kerala's [Images] Thrissur district conducted a purification ceremony after the visit of Union Minister Vayalar Ravi's son, Ravikrishna, on the ground that his mother hailed from a Christian family. Ravikrishna had gone to the temple on May 18.