Exposing the atheist plot on Sabarimala

Organiser,2006 Issues > August 13, 2006


Interview of the Week

Hindu unity in Kerala through Ayyappa
Exposing the atheist plot on Sabarimala

About 75 per cent of the hotels in Sabarimala and most of the hotels in Ranni, Erumeli and Karimala route are being run by Muslims or Christians who are the main financiers of politicians and Devaswom authorities. If as per ?DP? annadanam is provided, they stand to lose crores of rupees. I suspect the hand of the Christian-Muslim lobby in the attempts to belittle the ?DP? and destroy Sabarimala, its culture and traditions.

Kummanam Rajasekharan, State Organising Secretary of VHP, State President of Hindu Aikya Vedi (HAV) and a staunch Ayyappa activist, is synonymous with Hindu unity efforts in Kerala for the past 25 years. Kummanam, who was the rage during the early eighties when he was in the forefront of the Nilakkel Agitation (when Christians tried to plant a Cross in the Poonkavanam area in Nilakkel near the Sabarimala temple). Whenever and wherever Hindus are in trouble, Kummanam is always there to fight for the cause of Hindus?be it CPM attacks on Hindus, jehadi terrorism or Christian for conversion or denigration of Hindu gods. Now fighting the forces targeting the Sabarimala temple to destroy Hindu unity, Kummanam spoke to Organiser Correspondent S. Chandrasekhar at the VHP office, Samanvaya Bhavan, in Thiruvananthapuram. Excerpts.

Sabarimala temple is now totally immersed in controversies. First was the devaprashnam. Then the disclosure by the Kannada actress Jayamala that she went into the Sreekovil and touched Ayyappa?s idol, and now the Tantri, Kandararu Mohanaru is involved in a sex scandal. Where does all this lead to?
Forces hostile to Hindus know well that Sabarimala is the magnetic force that unites Hindus all over the world, irrespective of caste or creed. Hence, they are targeting Sabarimala to weaken their morale, crack their self-confidence, create confusion in their minds and to cause loss of devotion in the minds of crores of Hindus. Minor issues are being flared up to denigrate Sabarimala and its traditions. The stand of HAV and VHP is very clear. Ayyappa in Sabarimala is a Nastika Brahmachari and the presence of women between the age of 10 and 50 years is a taboo, according to the age-old customs and traditions. If Jayamala has broken this custom, she is guilty of criminal trespass and law should take action against her and those who let her in. On the other hand, if she had lied, then she is guilty of hurting the sentiments of crores of devotees, for which she should be punished. Efforts by Karnataka politicians to whip up the Kannada sentiments and put a trap on the Karnataka BJP is cheap political game. With regard to the Tantri, his presence in a shady place is shameful for the entire Hindu samaj. If he was trapped, who were the forces behind it? All these aspects have to be investigated. The role of the DIG (who is allegedly a left fellow-traveller) in blowing up the issue is also to be investigated. VHP, in the past, has not been receiving good reports on the activities of the Tantri. His business connections with rich Christian groups in Chengannur and Central Travancore areas of Kerala and his tours with them have been the subject of discussions. The crime branch, which is in charge of investigation in both issues, should do the job honestly and bring out the truth. If the Tantri is guilty, he should be punished. As far as VHP is concerned, if the Tantri has been involved in immoral activities, he is the enemy of the devotees and should be removed. Only in issues concerning Hindus, things are being blown out of proportion.

The Sister Abhaya Case, where a nun was raped, killed and thrown into a well in the convent premises, did not hit headlines. Hundreds of poor Christian girls, who become nuns due to poverty, are being exploited. In the Muringoor Dhyana Kendram, girls coming for prayers are raped and killed. No questions are asked despite the High Court ordering an investigation by the Special Investigation Team. In the Chekkanur Moulavi case, in which reformist Muslim scholar was killed by jehadis, no questions were asked. The first cyber crime in Kerala has been registered against a Christian pastor who sent lewd E-mails to members of the Church. No questions. If the Tantri is wrong, he should be punished, but that applies to all, not Hindus alone.

Is targeting of Sabarimala a recent trend?
Not at all. Efforts to destroy the Sabarimala temple were started in 1950, when the whole temple was set on fire by Christians The Christian lobby is involved in poaching of trees and ganja cultivation in forest areas. When thousands started visiting the forest shrine, their income dwindled and hence the setting the temple on fire. Between 1950 and 1955 there were three attempts to destroy the temple and several attacks on pilgrims. In 1983 they attempted to plant a Cross in Nilakkel, in Ayyappa?s garden. There was a conspiracy to build a dam in Poonkavanam area known as Pampa Valley Dam which would have submerged the temple and the Travancore Devaswom Board complaining that the forest land is not being given for Sabarimala development. Hence for the past 50-60 years, ever since pilgrims in large numbers started visiting Ayyappa after 41 days of vrata, a systematic effort is being made to denigrate Ayyappa and destroy Sabarimala.

What about the controversies surrounding the devaprashnam?
Devaprashnams are conducted to know the sentiments of the deities. All issues exposed in the present devaprashnam conducted by Parappanagadi Unnikrishna Panikker have been mentioned in the devaprashnams conducted in 1995 and 2002. While the earlier ones beat about the bush, Unnikrishna Panikker hit the nail on the head. Without mincing words he said a woman had entered the Sreekovil and touched the deity; undesirable activities like sale of liquor, drugs, sex rackets are taking place in Sabarimala; money mafia concerning Devaswom members, traders, contractors, politicians are fighting like cats and dogs for money etc. The nimithams (omans) were also positive since a woman entered the devaprashnam hall when he was speaking of a woman?s entry into Sreekovil. Similarly, when he spoke of fight for money, three fighting cats entered the hall and started fighting and crying. The ?DP? suggested free annadanam for all pilgrims and bringing of Vavur mosque (Ayyappa?s friend) under the control of Sabarimala temple since non-temple activities and fleecing of devotees are going on at Vavur mosque. The total summary of the ?DP? is that due to the arrival of crores of devotees, hundreds of crores of rupees are being pumped into Sabarimala, which is not being used for welfare of pilgrims but being swindled by the money mafia. The net result is that the Lord is not happy with the conduct in Sabarimala.

About 75 per cent of the hotels in Sabarimala and most of the hotels in Ranni, Erumeli and Karimala route are being run by Muslims or Christians who are the main financiers of politicians and Devaswom authorities. If as per ?DP? annadanam is provided, they stand to lose crores of rupees. I suspect the hand of the Christian-Muslim lobby in the attempts to belittle the ?DP? and destroy Sabarimala, its culture and traditions.

What about the jehadi threat to Sabarimala and Guruvayoor temples?
Both these temples are symbols of Hindu unity. Both these temples are under jehadi scanner. Explosives have been found near Sabarimala Sreekovil two years back. Also a mysterious fire broke out near prasad preparation area. Two terrorists involved in the Coimbatore blast case have been arrested from Sabarimala. As per a recent intelligence report, there is total security negligence in Sabarimala. Moreover, jehadi groups are targeting Sabarimala pilgrims from outside Kerala.

What is the role of VHP in the present Sabarimala controversy?
There is no point in taking sides. We should take sides in preserving and protecting the Ayyappa culture, traditions and movement. Lord Ayyappa is a symbol of Hindu unity in Kerala. Media-washing of dirty linens by anybody connected with the temple is not good. VHP is taking steps for evolving a consensus by involving the Devaswom Board, the Tantri, the Chief Priest, the Hereditary Pandalam King (Ayyappa?s family), so that things go smooth. Also VHP in co-ordination with all Hindu organisations is forming Ayyappa Unity Movement (AUM) for protection and strengthening of Hinduism through Ayyappa. Books on Ayyappa will be distributed to all Hindu houses of Kerala.

Despite RSS having a massive network of shakhas and VHP, HAV, the strength is not reflected in the elections. Why?
There is complete unity in the Hindu society. Hindu unity is an emotional movement which should gradually get converted into a political movement. That was the reason why ?Hindu Munnani? of Kerala was disbanded to give way for emerging BJP in the later part of eighties. Naturally, the visual impact of the support of the masses to an organisation is proved through performance in the election. But, sadly, BJP is not earnestly taking up issues affecting the Hindus of Kerala and hence its unimpressive performance in the polls. In issues like self-financing colleges (where CPM-led LDF is trying to control institutions run by NSS/SNDP), and Sabarimala temple, the BJP is not taking a pro-Hindu stand and hence its isolation. But Hindus of Kerala have realised the need for unity, especially after the Sabarimala controversies. They will unite under any banner that will protect their dharma, BJP, or, if necessary, otherwise.