Tamil Nadu authorities is ready to interrupt the 89-year-old custom of the Mandaikadu Bhagwathi Ammam Temple: All it is advisable to know

In Nagercoil metropolis of Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari district, Hindu devotees have been protesting towards a ban imposed by the Tamil Nadu authorities on gathering on the Mandaikadu Bhagwathi Ammam Temple. This temple is devoted to Goddess Shakthi. 

For greater than 80 years, a non secular convention is organized by the Haindava Seva Sangham (HSS)  on the temple through the well-known Masi Kodai competition held yearly on. Starting on March 5, this competition will final for ten days. This time, nonetheless, the Hindu Religious and Charity Endowment (HRCE) Board has decreed that “private” non secular gatherings and conferences wouldn’t be permitted, successfully outlawing the non secular convention hosted by the Haindava Seva Sangham.

Hindu devotees protesting towards TN authorities (Image by way of JanamTV)

This transfer by the HRCE division of the Tamil Nadu authorities has been extensively criticized by the native Hindus who’ve been peacefully protesting in varied components of Kanyakumari. On Wednesday (February 15), a number of Hindu devotees together with ladies blocked the roads at a number of areas in Kanyakumari together with Melpurum, Marthandam, Nagercoil, and Towala. The protesting Hindus mentioned that they won’t enable the federal government to achieve stopping actions associated to Hindu Dharma.

Haindava Seva Sangham

In its report, Swarajya highlighted the persistent efforts of the Haindava Seva Sangham within the service of Hindu dharma. For over the past 89 years, Haindava Seva Sangham has been organizing Hindu non secular conferences on the Mandaikadu. During the British colonial rule, HSS posed a big resistance to the evangelist forces which have been well-funded and backed by the British administration. HSS did the Herculean activity of uniting Hindus towards the conversion missionaries. 

Prominent festivals of Hindus have been regularly the targets of Christian missionaries’ conversion campaigns. In the exact place the place Hindus had gathered to worship, they’d construct a platform and denigrate the Hindu devi-devtas. Since there was no correct group of the Hindus, there was hardly any opposition to the actions of the Christian missionaries.  Even on the Mandaikadu Bhagwathi Amman Temple, which is also referred to as the ‘Sabrimala of women’ as ladies devotees right here carry ‘Irumudi Kattu’ to the temple, and comply with rituals just like these carried out by Hindu males on the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

The Church intentionally intimidated Hindus by positioning audio system in direction of the temple throughout this shrine’s competition. This was opposed by the HSS. 

1982 Mandaikadu riots

In March 1982, when MGR, the favored actor-turned-politician was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, below the affect of the Christian priest, a number of Christian locals barred Hindu ladies from accessing the sacred bathtub and molested them. This resulted in violent clashes. Six individuals died and 21 others have been severely injured on March 1 when police opened fireplace upon Christian fishermen who reportedly stopped Hindu ladies from taking the ceremonial bathtub. 

Following this, Venugopal Commission was constituted by the then CM MGR-led authorities to look at the circumstances that led to the communal riots and in addition sought ideas with a purpose to forestall such incidents from occurring sooner or later. The fee led by Justice P Venugopal made a number of suggestions together with the implementation of a standard civil code according to the rules said in Article 44 of the Indian structure, curbing of overseas funds by amending the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act as most of those overseas funds despatched for instructional functions of the Christian establishments have been diverted to fund conversion actions on Indian soil. Moreover, the fee additionally beneficial enacting an anti-conversion legislation.

Swarajya report has identified the change within the technique adopted by the ‘church’ as now they’ve claimed that Mandaikadu Bhagwathi Ammam is a sister of Mary. To again this declare, “the inputs from Folklore study Departments of Catholic controlled autonomous universities around are used.”

Mandaikadu Bhagwathi Ammam Temple – ‘Sabrimala of women’

The Mandaikadu Bhagavathi Amman Temple is devoted to Goddess Shakthi. A 15-foot-tall anthill is revered because the Goddess on this location. It is believed that the anthill, which has 5 heads, is continually rising. It is believed that it’s the similar place the place Adi Shankaracharya as soon as supplied pooja to a Sri Chakra. There can also be a Sri Chakra sanctum sanctorum. 

The identify “Women’s Sabarimala” was derived from the massive variety of ladies who quick for 41 days, particularly these from Kerala, and who thereafter journey to the Mandaikadu Bhagavathi Amman Temple whereas carrying the “Irumudi Kettu” on their heads. The temple’s design is paying homage to Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple in Kerala.

Every 12 months through the Maasi Kodai Festival, which takes place in February, ladies in Kerala quick for 41 days and go to Mandaikadu Temple, a lot as males quick for 41 days to wish at Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple.