A group of people from Kukke Subrahmanya who defended ‘made snana’ here on Wednesday said that the Government should not ban the ritual.
Rajesh N.S., Krishnaprasad Muniyangala, and Laxmisha Gabbaladkka, who claimed that they were speaking on behalf of the people of the temple town, said the Government should not take away the religious freedom of devotees by banning the practice.
The three said they did not agree with the suggestion given by seer of Visvesha Tirtha swamiji of Pejawar Math that instead of rolling over the left over food consumed by Brahmins on plantain leaves, devotees could roll over the food eaten by cows on plantain leaves. The present practice should continue, they said.
To a question on how to solve the issue as there was a demand to ban it, they said that an “ashtamangala prashne” should be held. They said those who opposed it should understand the mindset of devotees who performed ‘made snana’ and nobody had any right to interfere in the religious freedom of people. Those who opposed it should visit the town to study the ritual and understand who performed it and why.
The critics of made snana should refrain from issuing provocative statements. Instead, they should meet those devotees who performed it and convince them not to perform. It was not proper to create a fear psychosis and test the patience of local people.
Mr. Rajesh, Mr. Muniyangala and Mr. Gabbaladkka said that if devotees decided not to perform ‘made snana’, they would respect that decision. But if any one devotee came forward to practise it as a matter of faith, the Government should allow it.
Mr. Rajesh said the dictum of Kukke Subrahmanya temple referred about ‘beedhi made snana’, ‘made snana’ and ‘anga pradakshine’.
“The dictum is like bylaws of the temple,” Mr. Muniyangala said.
