Nath Sect was first to oppose Hindu caste system – Prof. Tukaram Poojary

Nath Sect was first to oppose Hindu caste system – Prof. Tukaram Poojary

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 24, 2012 : Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of a seminar on the social contributions of the Nath Sect organized by the State Endowment Department at Kadri Manjunatha Temple on Sunday, Prof. Tukaram Poojary, president of Rani Abbakka Tulu Adhyayana Kendra, said that the Nath Sect was the first to oppose the Hindu caste system.

 

Stating that history is better understood while taking into consideration monuments and folk literature, he said that the history constructed on the basis of manuscripts need not necessarily be accurate. He voiced his opinion that history must be traced by taking into consideration various other materials, and especially by studying folk literature. Speaking of the necessity to conduct a study on the Nath Sect at Kadri Temple, he said that historians will discover many interesting facts by studying the environment around Kadri.

Dr. P. Keshavanath, dean of Fisheries College, presided over a session and lauded the Nath Sect for contributing to communal harmony. Stating that the Nath Sect promotes equality, simplicity, and determination, he said that documents are available to prove the presence of the Nath Sect in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tibet.

Dr. Venkatesh Prasanna, CCB inspector, said that the Kadri Jogi Centre is the most powerful of all nine centres in Karnataka, adding that jogis propagating Nath philosophy in North India wish to visit Kadri Temple. The documents of Mangalanatha in 1397 are the first known documents about the Nath Sect in Kadri.

Odiyoor Seer Gurudevananda inaugurated the event and Deputy Speaker N. Yogish Bhat presided.