Vrishchikam month and Mandalam season Wishes; Let us be aware of the happenings in Kerala society

Today (November 16) is the beginning of the Malayalam month Virshchikam, when Mandala season, which marks the beginning of pilgrimage to Sabarimala begins. Once, it used to be the beginning of a holy season, when the atmosphere in Kerala would suddenly transform from mundane to spiritual. The sound of prayers and smell of incense would fill the air. People would wake up in the morning and light lamps in the prayer rooms in their homes; some would abstain from non vegetarian food as they begin observance for Sabarimala pilgrimage. However, this has started disappearing from Kerala slowly.

It isn’t simply the repeated floods and heavy rains that are changing the habits of the Hindus. The Sabarimala temple which is one of the most important temples in India has become a tinderbox since 2018. Huge police deployment and tension created in the area have distanced a section of pilgrims from the temple. Deliberate intervention and use of force by the left government in Sabarimala to implement a supreme court order allowing women of all ages entry in the temple and its fallout have destroyed the peaceful atmosphere in Sabarimala. There are reasons to believe that it was an organised attempt by certain groups to change Sabarimala, where Hindus of all castes and even believers from other religions were permitted entry for hundreds of years. 

Changing Sabarimala means transforming Kerala society as the temple has a huge influence on Kerala society. Hindus are blissfully unaware of such happenings and dismiss such conclusions as conspiracy theories. Let’s study our society and rituals and take cognizance of the attempts to change it. Let’s be informed. Information is the only weapon to defend us.

 

Demand for Non Brahmin Priests at Sabarimala: Reform or other motives?

 

Even three years after the mass protests that rocked Kerala following a move to allow entry to women of all ages in Sabarimala temple in Kerala where millions of Hindus visit annually, controversies about temple practises refuse to die down.

On November 12, SNDP Yogam (organisation of Ezhava community in Kerala) issued a statement protesting against the customs in the temple that only Kerala Brahmins (read Namboothiris) can become temple priests called Melsanthi and Tanthri in Malayalam. Mr. Natesan said despite a Supreme Court order that all Hindus who have learned temple worship rites have the right to become temple priests, the authorities were turning a blind eye towards the historic judgment. Mr. Natesan’s satatement came on November 12, which is temple entry anniversary day. It was on November 12, 1936 that Hindus of all castes were given rights to enter temples by the then Travancore King Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.

Interestingly though even Nairs are also ineligible to become temple priests as per the existing customs, the Nair Service Society aka NSS has never raised such demand. NSS leaders are mostly conformists wh support status quo and normally don’t oppose Brahmins. If Natesan’s demand is part of a social reform agenda, one need not oppose it.

However, Mr. Natesan is not his old self any more who was vociferous about Hindu unity in Kerala. In his present avatar, he has become a puppet of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Since Mr. Natesan has many cases in Kerala against him, he needs the goodwill of Mr. Vijayan. If Mr. Natesan’s demand to appoint Hindus of all castes as Sabarimala priest is genuine and aimed at reform it is all right. Now non Brahmin priests are there in a large number of temples under Travancore, Kochi and Malabar Devaswom Boards. However, if some others are pressurising him to create controversies and use the window of opportunity intervene in Sabarimala with ulterior motives one needs to be wary.

Sabarimala is a temple where all Hindus and non Hindus had been allowed entry even before temple entry proclamation. So Mr Natesan cherry picking Sabariamala on temple entry proclamation anniversary day to raise his demand for non-brahmin priest at temples raises doubts. Sabarimala is a byword of Hindu unity and unity of all South Indian states. Creating unnecessary controversies about Sabarimala is a communist conspiracy which can’t be allowed.

 R. Hari Kumar appointed India's Chief of Naval Staff 

A Malayali has been appointed India’s Chief of Naval Staff. R. Hari Kumar, who assumed office as the new chief of naval staff is a native of Pattom, Thiruvanananthapuram Kerala. He has been serving as the flag officer commanding in chief of the Western Naval Command. Admiral Hari Kumar had his matriculation from Mannam Memorial School in Thiruvananthapuram and had his plus two from Thiruvananthapuram Government Arts College. He graduated from the National Defence Academy. He had his higher education from Jawahar Lal Nehru University, Delhi and Kings College, London. He had also attended naval staff course at the US Naval War College in Newport. He has an illustrious career and is a highly decorated officer.

He is married to Kala Nair and has a daughter. Kala Nair is a native of Haripad and is the niece of famous Malayalam movie director K. Madhu

BJP and Kerala 2

Why Congress leaders in Kerala refuse to join the BJP even as the congress is crumbling in Kerala also like elsewhere in the country? Is it Hindutva ideology or some thing else. It's definitely not Hindutva as leaders like Kerala Gandhi K Kelappan and Sarvodaya leader MP Manmadhan have joined hands with the RSS in the past . Listen to the video

BJP and Kerala Media

BJP often complains that Kerala Media is totally antagonistic towards the party. Is this true? If true what are the reasons? The reasons are 1. There is lack of investment by BJP and supporters in media sector. 2. The BJP has failed to build a media eco system 3. There is lack of professionalism. Unless the BJP intervenes proactively and builds its own systems, the party will continue to be insignificant in the media sector