Pejawar Mutt Seer suggests solutions to Made Snana controversy

Pejawar Mutt Seer suggests solutions to Made Snana controversy

Mangalore Today News Network

MANGALORE, July 10, 2012: Pejawar Mutt Seer Shri Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji said that the Made Snana controversy can easily be solved without the government having to implement any laws.

Made Snana is an age-old ritual, requiring devotees to roll over banana leaf plates used and discarded by Brahmins. A number of progressive thinkers have opposed this ritual, and several people and organizations have demanded a ban on it.

During a 2-hour meeting with the people of Subrahmanya, the governing council of Kukke Subrahmanya Temple, and families belonging to the Malekudiya tribe, the swamiji said that the made snana ritual can be changed to make it more acceptable. He said that devotees can roll over plantain leaves on which prasadam is placed or on eatables left over by cows after feeding.

Later the Swamiji told reporters of The Hindu that, although most of the people present were willing to agree to the changes, several members of the Malekudiya tribe did not want the ritual to be changed. Some of them even commented that ending the ritual would be like ending their lives. One of the participants even quoted an astrologer, who had old him that ending the practice will cause them a lot of misfortune. The Swamiji said that he assured the man that that he will have his doubts cleared by an astrologer.

Expressing hopes that the problem will soon be solved, he said that the temple authorities will submit a report to the government. He said that he will communicate with the state government himself if someone requests him. Stating that a law against Made Snana is unnecessary, he said that he decided to find a solution to the problem upon the request of B. S. Yeddyurappa, the former chief minister of Karnataka.