Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Dec 28: During Kiri Shashti festival held at Subrahmanya temple in the taluk on Saturday December 27, for the first time, the Made Made Snana ritual, which had been continuing since centuries, was discontinued and replaced with Yede Snana.

On Saturday, after the noon Mahapuja, Yede Snana ritual was performed by 62 devotees in the outer precincts of the temple. The temple administration, which had allowed Made Made Snana ritual to be performed during Champa Shashti held last month after the high court allowed the same, had to withhold this ritual this time because of the stay order issued by the Supreme Court.

In the recent some years, Made Made Snana ritual is being stoutly opposed by progressive organizations, intellectuals,and several religious leaders,alleging that this ritual reflects caste-based discrimination. In Made Made Snana, people roll over the banana leaves with left overs, after Brahmins consume food in them. But a large number of people belonging to aborigines and tribals from around Subrahmanya had strongly supported the ritual, saying that it is a vow devotees of all classes and castes perform in fulfillment of vow undertaken by them. When approached in the past, the Supreme Court had said that it was up to the high court to decide the issue. After the high court approved continuance of Made Made Snana, the state government appealed against it in the Supreme Court and secured a stay order.

Many including Pejavar Swamiji have felt that Yede Snana can be adopted as a replacement for Made Made Snana because of the controversy surrounding the earlier procedure. In case of Yede Snana, devotees roll over banana leaves on which food offered to the presiding deity is laid out. There are opposition for this ritual from several, stating that there is no mention of this ritual in the temple history.

In view of Supreme Court stay, strict vigil had been kept in the temple area to ensure that Made Made Snana is not performed, and no undesirable incidents occur. Over a hundred policemen and home guards were on duty under the leadership of local police circle inspector, Satish. Temple executive officer, M Nagaraj, and members of the managing committee were present.

Yede Yede Snana was performed as per the permission given by the religious endowments commissioner, under the guidance of Hindu scholars on the issue. At first, 432 banana leaves were arranged in a line, after which food prepared for the day was laid out. Thereafter, seven cows belonging to the temple were allowed to consume food so laid out. After that, devotees who took bath in Darpanateertha river in front of the temple rolled over these leaves.

Bhaskar Bendody, state president of Adivasi Budakattu Jansanga, who had been instrumental in fighting it out in lower courts, high court, and even Supreme Court in getting permission to continue Made Made Snana as before, said that Yede Yede Snana is against the faith of the devotees, and that it is not cleared by any of the courts.