K. S. Shivaramu criticizes Made Snana, demands its ban

K. S. Shivaramu criticizes Made Snana, demands its ban

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 12, 2012: K. S. Shivaramu, president of the Karnataka State Backward Class Awareness Forum, addressed a press conference held at Press Club on July 12, Thursday, and said that encouraging Made Snana is against Article 51 (A) of the Indian Constitution, which promotes a questioning spirit and scientific temper among the people. 

Stating that the forum had protested against Made Snana in Freedom Park, Bangalore, and in response to the protest, D. V. Sadananda Gowda, the then chief minister of Karnataka, and Suresh Kumar, law minister, condemned the ritual and said that they would ban it within two months. But the promised ban was not imposed on the ritual, which requires devotees to roll on the leftovers of Brahmins. Mr. Shivaramu called this a conspiracy on the part of Kukke Subrahmanya Temple authorities and the state government to continue this ritual.

Stating that Made Snana is an insult to human dignity and an inhuman ritual, he said that it must be banned at the earliest. Regretting that even religious leaders are supporting this ritual, he said that these rituals continue only because the temple authorities want them to continue. Flaying the Pejawar Mutt Seer for his double standards, he said that Made Snana is conducted annually in Kukke Subrahmanya Temple and several devotees roll over the leftovers of Brahmins. People belonging to lower castes believe that they will be cured of skin ailments and get relief from their karma if they roll over banana leaves on which Brahmins have just had their meals. 

Accusing the Brahmin community of brainwashing poor lower caste people into believing that they will get a better life after death if they practice Made Snana, he said that a number of social workers and social welfare organizations are fighting against this practice. 

In 2011, Sunder Bhat, revenue assistant commissioner for Puttur, had issued a notice to the temple authorities to stop this practice because of pressure from several social welfare organizations, but owing to certain last minute developments, the ritual was conducted as usual. 

A meeting was held under the leadership of M. V. Puranik and Pejawar Mutt Swamiji to find a solution to this problem. After the meeting, the swamiji declared that he is neither against the ritual nor for it. Expressing his concern for the Malekudiya community, which is in favor of this ritual, he said that it is the Malekudiyas who must come to a decision about the ritual. 

According to Shivaramu, however, people from the Malekudiya community are involved in building chariots and similar temple work and never encourage Made Snana. He also said that he has evidence to prove that the Kukke Subrahmanya Temple belongs to the Malekudiya community and that they deserve full rights to the temple. 

Challenging Swami Prasanna Teertha to state clearly whether the temple belongs to him or people from the Malekudiya community, he said that, if the Pejawar Mutt swamiji is so concerned about the Malekudiya community, he must fight to give justice to the Vittala Malekudiya, who was charged with having Naxal associations and put in prison for four months. He urged the swamiji to give up his double standards and stop playing with the self-respect of the Dalits. He also warned that the forum will intensify its protests if Made Snana is not banned completely.