Subrahmanya bundh to protest against ban on Made Snana successful

Mangalore Today News Network

Sullia, Dec 6, 2011 : The devotees of Kukke Subrahmanya Temple, who had called for a Subrahmanya bandh on Dec 5 in protest against external interference in the temple affairs and outsiders’ efforts to interfere with age-old customs and traditions of the temple, received complete support.

Thousands of local people, devotees, and students participated in a protest meeting, during which they demanded that the centuries-old Made Snana ritual, performed by devotees as an expression of gratitude to Lord Subrahmanya for favors received, especially for the favor of curing skin ailments, should not be banned.

Vidwan Kabyady Jayaram Acharya, the veteran astrologer, delivered the chief protest address, in which he flayed intellectuals and leftists for interfering in matters that do not concern them and labeled them as “remnants of British administration.”

 

Labeling the recent controversy around the age-old ritual as a “well-planned conspiracy” to create rifts within the Hindu community, he said that the Maledudiya community, which plays an important role in the functioning of the temple, are staunch devotees of Lord Subrahmanya and that no one has the right to stop them performing any ritual they like. Stating that Made Snana has not harmed anyone so far, he wanted to know how people living far away can be disturbed by it. He said that thousands of people have gathered to protect the sanctity of the temple.

Stating that Made Snana has been performed willingly by devotees, free of charge, he said that those who feel disturbed by it must conduct scientific tests and prove that it is harmful before imposing a ban on it.

Mr. Acharya also urged Hindus to work in unity to protest against the attacks on their religious places and forms of worship. He said that he had been brought to Subrahmanya by his grandmother when he was a sixteen-year-old boy with blisters all over his body. He said that he had performed Made Snana and the blisters disappeared never to appear again.

Speaking on the occasion, Lakshmisha Gabladka urged outsiders not to interfere with the temple, its functioning, and its rituals. He urged officials to study the temple history, the people’s beliefs, and faith before meddling with its affairs.

Venkappa Gowda, the president of the Sullia Block Congress, expressed his opinion that orders interfering with religious faith should never be passed.

A large number of people, mostly from Malekudiya and Dalit communities, participated in this protest and demanded that devotees should be allowed to practice Made Snana if they wanted to.