Context
Tamil Nadu: State Government Bans 500-Year-Old Ritual At Historic Mutt, BJP’s Annamalai, Adheenam’s Slam DMK
Swarajya Staff
May 06, 2022, 12:38 PM | Updated 12:38 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
A district collector in Tamil Nadu refused permission for a customary practice involving the head of the historic Dharmapuram Adheenam being carried in a palanquin.
The context: The Dharmapuram Adheenam is one of Tamil Nadu’s historically important Shaivite religious institutions.
-Founded in the sixteenth century, this institution has been at the forefront of promoting Shaivism and defending Hinduism against proselytising forces.
-The ritual being banned is called ‘pattina pravesam’ - it involves the disciples of the head of the institution placing their master on a palanquin and carrying him.
-This is a once-in-a-year event.
But there’s also a political context: The mutt had recently invited the Tamil Nadu Governor for a series of events - a fact that may not have gone well with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
-MK Stalin and the Tamil Nadu Governor have been on the war path with the latter not forwarding Tamil Nadu assembly’s draft bills on NEET.
-Further, the mutt has always stood on the side of Hindu practices and tradition - all of which the ruling DMK has sought to undermine or ‘reform’.
-In the 1980s when an absurd work that claimed that Shaivism and Christianity had the same origins, the Dharmapuram Adheenam mobilised strongly against its publication.
-The mutt and its pontiff regularly stand up against linguistic chauvinism. They support the use of Sanskrit as a ritual language - another sore point for the DMK.
What others say: Tamil Nadu BJP leader Annamalai came out strongly against the government and so have other religious leaders.
-The head of Madurai Adheenam, another historically important religious institution, has condemned the government’s ban.
-He has said that he will personally carry the Dharmapuram Adheenam’s pontiff if the ban was not reversed.
Read in-depth: Another Attack On A Saivaite Tradition And Annamalai Comes To The Defence
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.