Refusing to accept the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee's decision to express regret over the purification issue, the temple tantri (high priest) on Wednesday said he had no regret over his decision to conduct the punyaham ritual following a visit to the temple by Union Minister Vayalar Ravi's son Ravikrishna.

"Why should I regret (the act)? As long as the present rules exist, I will go by them. Let the government change the rules. I am not part of the government," tantri Chennas Raman Namboodiripad told PTI.

He said he would exercise his rights so long as the rules remained the same.

Reacting to the decision of the managing committee of the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, Ravikrishna said what was important was that there should be an assurance that this sort of thing would not happen again in the case of any person.

"I am awaiting the written reply from the Devaswom to my letter. I welcome their decision. But mere expression of regret is not enough. What is important is that this sort of a thing should not happen in future," Ravikrishna told PTI.

"I am a Hindu. It is my birthright to assert that I am a Hindu. Who is the tantri to say that I am not a Hindu? They should put an end to this. What is the guarantee that the punyaham will not be repeated if I visit the temple again?" he asked.

"Ultimately, my family and children should not face this sort of experience in the future.

I don't know what decision the Devaswom has actually taken except what I have heard from the media. I am awaiting the written reply from the managing committee," he said.