Following the furore over holding of a ‘Soma Yaga’ at Mathur village, near Shivamogga, which allegedly involved sacrificing eight goats as part of the ritual, the district administration has sought a report from the local gram panchayat to take further action.
The yaga, which took place between April 22 and 26, by a small group of people belonging to a Brahmin sect came to light belatedly.
Photos, video go viral
The pictures and video of the yaga, which show the performers sacrificing goats and consuming liquor, went viral on Wednesday.
The village is often referred to as a “Sanskrit village” because many here use it as the spoken language.
Deputy Commissioner V.P. Ikkeri told presspersons that the Chief Executive Officer of the Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat had been directed to seek a report from the gram panchayat in this regard. The CEO would also look into the authenticity of the photos and the video. The video shows parts of the animals being put into the fire as ‘havissu’ (offering) and the participants consuming it later.
“If the allegation of inflicting cruelty to animals is proved, appropriate action will be initiated as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rules and Karnataka Prevention of Animal Sacrifices Act against the organisers of the event,” he said.
However, Sanathkumar, a Sanskrit scholar from Mathur village who had organised the yaga, denied the allegation of animal sacrifice. “The yaga was organised for world peace and for the welfare of all living beings. The goats were tied to a pole near the altar as part of the ritual. After chanting mantras in the ears of the animals, they were set free,” he said. He claimed that liquor was not consumed.
MLC pleads ignorance
M.B. Bhanuprakash, MLC and a resident of Mathur who is also vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party State unit, pleaded ignorance of animal sacrifice. “It is true that Soma Yaga was held in the village, but I am not aware of the animal sacrifice. Personally, I am against any practice against the law of the land,” he said.
It is said that a majority of the residents of Mathur had opposed the animal sacrifice and had stayed away from the event.
Such practices are still alive. We have to create awareness to eradicate them.
T.B. Jayachandra,Law Minister
