“Ede Snana” was performed at the Sri Muchlukodu Subrahmanya Temple here on Thursday. As many as 10 devotees including seven women and three men participated in the “Ede Snana” ritual.
It may be recalled that Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Math had suggested “Ede Snana” as an alternative to the “Made Snana” ritual. It is for the second successive year that the “Ede Snana” was held at this temple, which comes under the Pejawar Math.
Under “Made Snana,” the devotees rolled over the plantain leaves containing leftovers of meals partaken by Brahmins. This was opposed by many progressive organisations and thinkers.
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But under “Ede Snana,” devotees roll over the “prasada” or “food offered to the deity” which were kept on plantain leaves.
Soon after the prayers, as many as 10 persons took their bath near the well located close to the sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Muchlukodu Subrahmanya Temple. They then rolled over the “prasada”.
Bharati, a resident of Kukkikatte, said that she had been performing “Made Snana” for 18 years at Sagri Subrahmanya Temple and then “Ede Snana” at this temple here. “For me, both are rituals, I do not find any difference between them. It is devotion, which is important. Due to performance of this ritual, a white patch, which was earlier there on my head, has disappeared,” she said.
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Sudha, a resident of Korangarapady, said that she had been doing ‘Made Snana’ for four years and then ‘Ede Snana’ for the last two years. “No one has forced me to either ‘Made Snana’ or ‘Ede Snana.’ I do it to get the blessings of Lord,” she said.
Another woman, Sudha Kanarady, said that she was participating in the “Ede Snana” ritual for the first time. She had prayed for a child for her daughter. “My daughter has given birth to a boy. Hence I am doing ‘Ede Snana’ as I have to fulfil a vow (‘harake’),” she said
Another person Raghavendra Udupa, who also performed “Ede Snana,” said that though he had performed “Ede Snana,” it was not as satisfying as “Made Snana.” He had been doing “Made Snana” for 15 years, and “Ede Snana” for the last two years, he said.
PEJAWAR SEER’S REACTION
Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Math, who had conceptualised “Ede Snana,” said that it was not necessary to have a practice where devotees roll over the plantain leaves containing leftovers of meals of Brahmins.
In “Ede Snana,” devotees roll over the “prasada” offered to the deity. The “prasada” is holy. Hence there will be no problem with “Ede Snana.” But with “Made Snana,” there will always be arguments and controversy, he said.
“When I take over as the Paryaya Swami of Sri Krishna Math Temple in 2016, I will allow “Made Snana” there during my Paryaya period of two years,” the seer said.
‘MADE SNANA’
“Made Snana” was performed at Sri Subrahmanya shrine in the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Math/Temple premises here on Thursday. About 15 to 20 persons participated in the “Made Snana” at the Sri Krishna Math/Temple.