Dravidian Group Ridicules Hymn On Lord Skanda, Upset Tamil Hindus Unite To Hold Protest Tomorrow

A video made by a Periyarist-Dravidian group, calling itself Karuppar Kootam (Black group/mob) ridiculing the holy Skanda Sashti Kavacham (a hymn to Lord Skanda, son of Lord Shiva, seeking his total protection) has left Tamil Hindus angry and upset.

The Skanda Sashti Kavacham, made popular by siblings Soolamangalam Sisters Jayalakshmi and Rajalakshmi, is a hymn that resonates daily in the homes of Tamil Hindus. People recite the hymn seeking good health, fortune, and mental peace.

The Karuppar Kootam has, in particular, ridiculed verses between 64 and 92.

These verses seek from Lord Skanda protection of each part of the body from head to the toe.

In one particular video, Karuppar Kootam, which enjoys the support of DMK-allied influential Periyarist ideologues like Suba Veerapandian, launched vulgar tirade against the devotional poetic verses seeking divine protection for organs of reproduction and excretion.

Several Hindu groups have criticised the Karuppar Kootam video, saying it was an effort to mislead people.

Many activists point out that humans are prone to getting colon cancer and, therefore, a devotee seeks Lord Skanda's protection from such threats.

The Karuppar Kootam has either committed a mistake by undermining Tamil Hindus or has made a calculated attempt to provoke them.

Lord Skanda is celebrated as a Tamil God with thousands of devotees walking to the Palani Dhandayudhapani Temple every year during January-February besides thronging his six abodes.

The devotees’ walk is as revered as the Mandala Pooja period at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

What has angered Tamil Hindus is that the ruling All India Anna Dravida Kazhagam (AIADMK), Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and other mainstream parties, except the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have maintained a deafening silence on the issue.

More than this, while Tamil Nadu police arrested cartoonist Varma alias S Surendran on Monday (13 July) for “inappropriate representation of Prophet Muhammad”, no action has been taken on the Karuppar Kootam.

A case was filed against the Dravidian group only after the BJP lodged a complaint with the Chennai police commissioner yesterday (14 July).

The BJP has also sought to block the Karuppar Kootam’s YouTube channel.

The disappointment over the Tamil Nadu government’s lack of action has reflected on social media with some saying that they are deeply pained over Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami not even a condemning the video.

A WhatsApp message doing rounds said the Karuppar Kootam has touched a raw nerve that it should not have. This has resulted in Tamil Hindus raising the slogan “Vetri Vel, Veera Vel” (Victorious spear or Trishul that is in Lord Skanda’s Hands and Courageous spear).

“Even when these Dravidians sorted out Gods as North Indian and South Indian, such an uprising did not take place. The moment Lord Skanda was touched, the Dravidian roots have been shaken,” the message said.

“When these people (Dravidian organisations) attacked Brahmins, ordinary Hindus assumed that it was justified. The ordinary Hindu also kept quiet when Lord Rama was depicted as a north Indian God and ridiculed. Finally, when they touched Lord Skanda, the majority of Tamil Nadu has risen in unison,” the message said.

With tomorrow being Krttika (Krithigai in Tamil) in the Hindu lunar calendar, a day considered special for Lord Skanda, a call has gone out to recite Skanda Sashti Kavacham in every Tamil Hindu home from 5.30 pm onwards.

The recitation will be a protest against the Dravidian group video ridiculing their favourite God.

The request has been circulated on WhatsApp as one of the ways to hit back at the Dravidian parties and its supporters.

More actions are likely to follow on this controversy as the call for the protest recitation is gaining traction.