Shudras roll over Brahmin food

Devotees roll over banana leaves with leftover food at the Kukke Subrahmanya Temple. Picture by Vartha Bharathi

K.M. RAKESH

Bangalore, Dec. 6: A state-run temple in BJP-ruled Karnataka has lifted a ban on a ritual in which backward castes roll on banana leaves with food leftovers of Brahmins believing they will be “blessed”, sparking an outcry. Groups representing lower castes, academicians and social activists have described the decision by the authorities of the Kukke Subrahmanya Temple to revive made snana (bath in leftovers) as abominable and uncivilised. Over 3,000 people have gone through the ritual at the centuries-old temple in Sullia, 480km from Bangalore, since the ban was lifted last week. It was clamped earlier this year because of a similar outcry. The state minister for temple endowments, V.S. Acharya, has voiced support for the 700-year old ritual, which some of the faithful believe can even cure skin diseases. But faced with the growing clamour against the ritual from people and the Opposition in the Assembly, the government today asked the social welfare department to submit a report in four days explaining what led the authorities at the shrine to lift the ban. Temple officials said they had done so because of “pressure” from devotees ahead of a festival. But the turnaround has outraged academicians, social activists and a section of political leaders, who believe the practice is the most abhorrent system of worship since the ban on bettala seve (nude worship) almost a decade ago. In that ritual, naked women sought blessings on a special day, the parade attracting international media and TV crew to film the events at the Devi Renukamba temple at Chandragutti in Shimoga, around 250km from Bangalore. The practice was banned in 2002 after a furore. But few have dared to defy the leftover ritual as openly as they had opposed the nude worship. A backward class leader who protested at the Subrahmanya temple when the ritual was being held recently was thrashed by a mob. But the assault on K.S. Shivaramu, president of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum, has become a rallying point for those demanding the ban should be imposed again. Social activist and backward class leader G. Rajashekar said it was high time the government put its foot down. “These practices humiliate the lower castes, even though many of whom blindly consider them sacrosanct.” Priests have not been as categorical. Vishwatheertha, a senior seer of the Pejawar Mutt of a Brahminical order of southern Karnataka, appeared to play safe, declaring he was neither for nor against the ritual. But he is under pressure from several quarters to build opinion for stopping the ritual. Academicians have been unequivocal in their condemnation. Bangalore University vice-chancellor N. Prabhu termed the practice as being demeaning to human dignity. The varsity’s students have launched a campaign to spread awareness against such “barbaric” practices.