'Ritual involving animal sacrifice performed not at Kerala, but nearby'

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday clarified that a ritual named "Shatru Bhairavi Yaga", which involves the sacrifice of animals, was not performed at the Rajarajeshwara temple in Kerala, but in a private place nearby. Meanwhile, the Kerala government reiterated that no animal sacrifice was held near a temple in the northern part of the state, as claimed by Shivakumar.

Shivakumar on Thursday claimed that the "Shatru Bhairavi Yaga" was being performed targeting him, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and the Congress government in the state, near Rajarajeshwara temple in Kerala.

The state Congress chief, without revealing any names, alleged that some political people in the state were getting it done, and Aghoris (monastic order of ascetic Shaivite sadhus) are being consulted for it.

"I'm telling you, I have a lot of respect for temple....I have not said (ritual was) in temple. In temple nothing has happened, I know. It is somewhere near," he said.