Madey Snana is to be held on November 25, 26 and 27
A file photo of devotees performing ‘Madey Snana' at Kukke Subrahmanya temple (Photo: DC)
Mangaluru: In an interim order, a division bench of the Karnataka High Court comprising Justice N. Kumar and Justice B.V. Nagarathna on Wednesday allowed continuation of the practice of ‘Madey Snana,’ at Kukke Sri Subrahmanya Temple.
The bench which took up the review petition filed by Adivasi Budakattu Hitarakshana Vedike represented by its president B.K. Bhaskara Bendodi stated that the old practice of ‘Madey Snana’ could continue at the temple. It also stayed the High Court order dated November 8, 2012 where the court had given its nod to ‘Yede Snana’, a modified version of ‘Madey Snana’.
“Adivasi Budakattu Hitarakshana Vedike filed a review petition asking the court to review the modified version (Yede Snana). Earlier, we had challenged the modification order at the Supreme Court which had stayed the High Court order. Later, in September 2014 we withdrew from the Supreme Court to file review petition in the High Court,” Advocate K.N. Phanindra who is arguing on behalf of the Vedike told Deccan Chronicle.
“Madey Snana is to be held on November 25, 26 and 27. In the review petition that we filed in the High Court our argument was that the practice of ‘Madey Snana’ dates back to around 500 years and there is no reason to modify it. The allegation there is discrimination and Dalits are made to roll on the leaves with food left over by Brahmins. But we told the court that anybody who wished could perform this practice. We also told the court that the government confession was wrong and expressed our opposition to this. We wanted the old practice to continue,” he said.
“Considering all these, the court stated that the earlier practice of ‘Madey Snana’ can continue and stayed the modified version. It also ordered notice to all the original petitioners who filed the PIL against Madey Snana,” he added.
Meanwhile Karnataka Rajya Hindulida Vargagala Jagrutha Vedike state president K.S. Shivaram who has been fighting against ‘Madey Snana’ is astonished at this order. “This is a practice which deserves to be banned. We will approach the High Court against ‘Madey Snana and also if needed the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the state government should issue an ordinance banning Madey Snana,” Mr Shivaram said.
‘Madey Snana’ is a practice where devotees, roll on the plantain leaves with leftovers after Brahmins have food on them during Subrahmanya Shasti. This practice is followed for three days during Subrahmanya Shasti and during Kiru Shasti at Kukke Subrahmanya temple and a few other temples in the state.
The practice was opposed by progressive thinkers lead by Nidumamidi Swamiji who filed a writ petition at the High Court. The then government had submitted to the court that it would stop ‘Madey Snana’ and instead start a modified version- ‘Yede Snana’ where devotees could roll on ‘naivedyam’ offered to God. The bench headed by Chief Jutice Vikramajit Singh and B V Nagarathna had given its nod to this modified version on Nov. 8, 2012.
( Source : dc )
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