Elavoor Thookkam 2004

 

by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

4.	SCRIPTURES DO NOT SANCTION THOOKKAM   q Sanctity Wall demolished by Thookkam mongers q    Chief Minister apprised of Atrocity q    Crucial Tantri-Sanyasin Meet and Decisions

 

q     Sanctity Wall demolished by Thookkam mongers

Meanwhile the Temple Annual Festival intervened, which was over on 6^th April 04. For the Thookkam Scaffold to be brought in, the Temple’s inner Sanctity Wall had to be broken. The Temple Committee had made many attempts to demolish this Wall, but due to opposition it could not be achieved. I had apprised the RDO about the possible destruction.  He assured me that the Advisory Committee had no property rights and where was the question then of their tampering with the Sanctity Wall?  He wanted, however, a letter from me about the probable move, which was given. The PDS had its own apprehension in the matter. 

On 15^th April the Temple Committee had called people through public announcement for a congregational confession (called vilicchu cholli praayaschittam– people assembled and made to jointly make an all-round confession for the wrongs and sins they and their ancestors had knowingly or unknowingly incurred) before the Devi.  Many turned up in the Temple accordingly. Whether the community praayaschitta (atonement) was done or not, the devotees were asked to demolish the Sanctity Wall of the Temple with lightning speed. The trees within it were also felled. The Scaffold as well as the onlookers could now freely be inside the Temple for the avowed Thookkam on 23^rd. 

The misguided sense of adventure, heroism, valour and success spread like wildfire amongst the Thookkam votaries.  To an extent these unnerved the Paura Dharma Samity leaders. Disappointment, hopelessness and a sense of defeat was quite obvious in their words.  But I felt that this one act brought the Temple Committee’s aggression, intolerance, hooliganism and disobedience to law to piercing focus.  But when I told Unnikrishnan Master about it, he could not take my words.

On getting the Destruction news on the 15^th morning , we contacted both the Collector and RDO, but to no avail.  Police was standing on the scene, mute, ineffective.  One member from outside Hindu fold, with a few other from the same denomination played a leading role in the destructive operation. How heart-rending was it!. How can any responsible person defend such an aberration? But the blind Temple Committee felt credited, flattered with the achievement!

 

q     Chief Minister apprised of Atrocity

Meanwhile, I addressed the Chief Minister, after speaking to his PA, Harihara Subramania Iyer.  This had apparently its destined effect.  I felt that the gravity of the matter should be let known to the highest level.  Many thought it was no use approaching the CM.  Instead, his PA wanted us to keep the CM posted with the developments, which we did regularly from then on.

For the Thookkam-mongers it was destruction of the Sanctity Wall, uprooting the Temple Trees, hundreds of people marshaled for the mission.  But what was our objective? Where, how and with what strength?

 

q     Crucial Tantri-Sanyasin Meet and Decisions

We wanted to gauge the minds of the Tantris (chief priests of the Temples) who are the acknowledged authority in deciding and prescribing Temple rites and procedures. A meeting was convened on 17^th March by Sanyasins, for the purpose, in the Hall of the Pazhayanadakkavu Brahmaswom Madhom. As many as twentyfive persons attended, in which nearly twenty  tantries had represented their thoughts. In addition, representatives of the Hindu United Front and allied groups were also present, besides other stalwarts. I was requested to deliver the keynote address. I addressed them thus:

Harih Om Tat Sat.  It cannot be denied that Hindu society is to some extent disorganized and on this ground emaciated too.  But it cannot also be forgotten that from time to time Avataras (Divine Descents), Mahatmas (Great Souls) and Acharyas (Teachers) have appeared on the scene, wherever and whenever grave moral needs were felt to resolve the crisis, and strengthen the society and re-establishing Dharma.  Often this kind of Dharmic Leadership has arisen and accomplished its task spontaneously, as did Sri Krishna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra when he imparted the eternal message of Bhagavadgeeta to Arjuna and the world. Perhaps only then it makes the event more memorable, instilling deep thought and introspection.

 

It was about 1300 years after Buddha’s advent that a Nambootiri lad of Kerala left his widowed mother in a bid to trek to the banks of Narmada and find his spiritual father.  Consequent to the divine interaction between them, the beloved disciple was inspired to traverse the entire length and breadth of the country to establish the greatness and superiority of Vedantic truths and tenets

Having been reminded of such lofty precedents, the Meeting passed a resolution to the effect that Thookkam was not a temple ritual or rite and that

Other resolutions:

• Warned the Government of serious electoral consequences if religious impropriety allowed to pass.

• Demanded Government intervention in letting the new temple administration take charge by its support and protection.

• Finally, exhorted the devotees from far and wide to “flow to Elavoor Putthankavu Bhagavati Temple to conduct Akhanda Nama Japa on 22nd and 23rd of April to purify the Temple Atmosphere.

 

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