News & Notes - May 2004

Gurupoornima falls on July 02. Worship of Guruparamparaa on that day will be followed by a 6-day Retreat. Seekers who intend to participate in the Retreat must contact Ma Gurupriya Ji by post or by e-mail. Confirmation from the Ashram will be sent by the last week of May. The participants will arrive by the forenoon of July 01 and take leave by July 09.

Ban on Thookkam: The Ernakulam District Collector, Sri Gyanesh Kumar, in his midnight order on 22nd April 04, has banned Thookkam – hanging a person from a 32 ft high scaffold by piercing his back with sharp metal hooks. The Collector stated that Thookkam would not be allowed in view of the possible danger to human life, health and safety, and the distinct possibility of disturbance of public tranquility.

Complimenting the concerned authorities for the firm step, Poojya Swamiji, in his press statement said: “Contrary to the common belief, these mal-practices have no scriptural sanction. All these sprout from lack of viveka (discrimination) and lack of proper allegiance to Scriptures, which are the backbone of our eternal culture. Devotional practices should fundamentally be nonviolent and conducive to spiritual purity and refinement. Devotees and devotional thinkers must follow the path of viveka. Only then the virtuous objectives will be properly fulfilled.

“Knowingly or unknowingly whatever omissions or commissions have been committed, Puthankavu Goddess will forgive all concerned.

“In the name of Devi worship, to pierce the back of a person with sharp metal hooks, hoist him on a scaffold 32 ft high and whirl around the temple, is no doubt uncultured, barbaric and primitive. No Scripture sanctions or supports such gruesome practices.”

Earlier, on 21st April, Poojya Swamiji had led the VivekodayaYatra in Elavoor area addressing at three places on route to the Elavoor Puthankavu Bhagavati temple. Speaking to the large gathering of people (both the pro and anti thookkam), at each place, Poojya Swamiji minced no words to drive home the point that the Thookkam practice should necessarily be stopped because it is against civilised behaviour and norms and also not sanctioned by any of the Scriptures.

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