How Thookkam was stopped for ever in 1987

 

The Protest

In 1987, Poojya Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha, President of Hind Navotthana Pratishtan, along with Swami Purushothama Tirtha, General Secretary of Hind Navotthana Pratishtan, and other Sannyaasins raised a whirlwind protest against the evil on the grounds that any such practice –

1. Utterly violates all scriptural, religious and devotional standards 

2. Is criminal in nature 

3. Desecrates sanctity of Temple Precincts 

4. Hinders dissemination of cultural values as well as Hindu Dharma 

5. Is anti-Hindu 

6. Is anti-national 

7. Reprehensible to any enlightened society  

8. Propagates himsaa - violence

To focus this dhaarmic protest, they resolved upon a Shayana Vrata, a righteous solemn step to lie along with the devotees mute in front of the scaffold. It  meant that the scaffold pullers and their band would have to trample over the ascetics’ and devotees’ bodies. 

It was a powerful dhaarmic step to bring better sense to Thookkam votaries, making it impossible for the authorities to allow one ill-conceived Thookkam Vow and disallow in the same precincts the well-conceived Shayana Vow.  

The media covered the unprecedented sensational developments in headlines of their front pages in 1987. 

The Authorities failed miserably to evolve any solution in the matter. 

Sannyaasins’  March Intercepted

As part of the protest, Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha along with Swami Purushothama Tirtha led a historic march with Sannyaasins and devotees from all parts of Kerala,  from Narayanashrama Tapovanam, Trichur to Elavoor, near Ankamally. It was a vehicle procession with Namasankeertana, to offer Shayana Vrata in front of the Thookkam scaffold as avowed.

But, the District Collector and his Police retinue had positioned themselves 1 Km away from the Temple venue to obstruct Swamijis and the others, a step that could not be justified by any Dhaarmic, Civil or Criminal norms.  By this, they abetted and allowed the detestable criminal Thookkam Ritual, much to the derision of the thinking, rational, dhaarmic and truly devotional hearts and minds. 

For the law-enforcement authorities to restrain the law-abiding citizens and safeguard the law-defying indulgers, even as an expediency, is a mockery of justice indeed!

1987 decision on Stoppage

Heeding widespread severe protest, especially from  nationally and globally known Sannyaasins, Thookkam proponents and Government formally called off Thookkam in  1987 by 

• arranging an Ashtamangalya astrological session to arrive at the substitute in a divine manner 

• convening a public meeting to ratify the new formula.

Thookkam substituted by Poomootal

Accordingly  the  1001-member strong pro-Thookkam Committee convened a public meeting to ratify the Astrological Ashtamangalya Prashna decision – the last word in Temple matters – to substitute Thookkam with Poomootal (covering Devi’s idol with flowers), marking the end of the centuries old vestige of human sacrifice at Elavoor Putthankavu Bhagavati Temple.

A Temple Ashtamangalya Prashna  takes place once in many years, with a view to know whether the Temple affairs, management, worship and other practices are  properly done to the satisfaction of the Deity.  It also seeks to identify omissions and commissions unknowingly taking place in the precincts.  Such a session, tradition holds, becomes relevant and should be sought only when the subject concerned is beyond the direct knowledge of the Tantri (Founder or head Priest) of the Temple, the Management and the devotees in general.  At least three astrological experts should be invited to hold the session, to make it flawless, unbiased, impersonal and perspective enough.  The devotee public should be well informed in time, through public notices and announcements about the event and its purpose, and persuaded to take part in the deliberations throughout. Once the session is completed and the Prashnacchaartu (the chart of findings and decisions) chart is made, it is regarded as accepted by the Deity. This kind of astrological session is invariably held before Temple Rejuvenation  or Reconstruction.

But tradition holds that a subject once submitted to Ashtamangalya Prashna Decision should not be tampered with by another similar session. Any such repetitive venture would vitiate the sacrosanct character of courting astrology for Divine sanctions.  The transgression will also savour devotional disloyalty, sabotaging the very Divinity of the whole system.

As on today Poomootal has been booked already up to the year 2017, revealing unambiguously how well the substitute is flourishing.

 

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