Author: Yadnesh Sawant
Publication: Vijayvaani.com
Date: January 17, 2009
http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=344
Condemnable incidents of idol desecration
date back to the black history of Portuguese invasion in Goa. During their
rule, the Portuguese compelled the Hindus to convert to Christianity. They
committed horrible atrocities on the Hindus, attacked their temples and desecrated
the murtis in order to create terror. Goa has a black history of the infamous
Inquisition.
Though Goa will celebrate the golden jubilee
of its independence in a few years, it is sad to note that incidents of desecration
of murtis of Hindu deities and saints continue. So far, as many as 22 desecration
incidents have occurred between August 2004 to December 2008 - at Sanguem,
Curchorem, Bambolim, Ponda, Chodan, Quepem, Panaji - but not a single culprit
has been booked in any case.
The aim of the iconoclasts is of course, to
ruin the faith of Hindus in their gods, sants, and Dharma. The Congress regime
in Goa is most negligent in protecting Hindus against such brutalities.
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Akhil Goa Mandir
Suraksha Samiti (AGMSS)
On 28 August 2004, an image of Sri Paaikdev
was desecrated at Valse, Bhati, Sanguem. The very next day, 29 August, a murti
of Sri Kanerisiddha was desecrated in the same taluka. In 2004-05, there were
four image desecration incidents; in 2007, there were four incidents; and
by April 2008 another four incidents of desecration took place.
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) took serious
note of these incidents and with the help of like-minded organisations, staunch
Hindus and local devotees, staged an agitation against these incidents. Memorandums
were submitted memorandums to the administration, Government and police several
times, but all pleas fell on deaf ears.
On 23 June 2008, yet another image was desecrated
at Sri Someshwar temple at Shirvai, Quepem. Given the growing number of such
incidents and the persistent failure of the police and administration to act
to curb the same, several Hindu organisations, temple trustees and devotees
joined hands to form an autonomous body to spread awareness about this iconoclasm
and take steps to curb the same. Thus, the Akhil Goa Mandir Suraksha Samiti
(AGMSS) came into being. From its inception, its activities have been guided
by H.H. Bramheshanand Swamiji, Pithadeesh of the Padmanabh Sect, Tapobhoomi,
Kundaim, Goa.
The AGMSS has so far conducted meetings in
almost all Talukas of the State; a state level public meeting on 17 August
2008 in the capital, was attended by 1000 temple representatives from all
over the State and graced by H.H. Shivanand Saraswati Swamiji of Sri Saunsthan
Gaudapadacharya Mutt, Kavlem, Ponda, Goa; Sri Sri Sacchidananda Dyaneshwar
Bharati Swamiji of Karki Mutt of Daivadnya Brahman Samaj (North Karnataka);
Srimad Vidyadhiraj Teerth Vader Swamiji of Partagal Mutt, Goa; Sri Vibhushit
Jagadguru Ramanandacharya; Sri Swami Narendracharya Maharaj of 'Sri Sampraday;'
and H.H. Bramheshanand Swamiji of Tapobhoomi, Kundaim, Goa. The outcome of
this awareness programme is that any incident of desecration is promptly and
intensely protested by devotees and the general public.
AGMSS programmes
The Akhil Goa Mandir Suraksha Samiti has organised
exhibitions of image desecration in Goa, along with brief information about
the various incidents. AGMSS also prepared a CD to spread further awareness,
as a result of which thousands have become aware of this atrocity from the
viewpoint of Hindu Dharma.
Presently, the Hindu community appears to
have lost its inner strength and is unable to resist and defend itself from
repeated attacks on its gods and temples. To invigorate the community and
remind it of the puissance of its divinities, the AGMSS organised a 'public
weapon worship' programme last Dussehra at various places in the state.
The AGMSS called a 'Goa bandh' on 20 October
2008 to pressurise the government to catch the iconoclasts. The Congress government
fumbled as the bandh call received overwhelming public response. On 18 October
2008, AGMSS state level coordinators, Vinayak Chari, Rajendra Velingkar and
Jayesh Thali, were arrested by police for using a loudspeaker while campaigning
for the 'Goa Bandh' near the Old Bus Stand at Margoa! But they had to be released
a few hours later.
The Congress regime, however, made several
attempts to frustrate the 'Goa bandh.' One day before, the Government placed
an advertisement in the daily newspapers appealing to the public to refrain
from participating in the 'Goa bandh;' it assured police protection to those
who did not join. It also invoked Section 144 throughout the state on 20 October,
and tried to arrest the principal leaders of the agitation. Despite these
measures, there was cent percent participation by Goans.
Devasthan Saurakshan Mahasammelan
Despite these measures, image desecration
incidents still continued in parts of Goa, prompting the AGMSS to organise
a 'Devasthan Saurakshan Mahasammelan' in Panaji on 10 January 2009. An impressive
35,000 Hindus united for the cause of temple security. Resolutions unanimously
called for a 'Temple Protection Act' to permanently curb the deplorable series
of desecration incidents in Goa, laws to stop denigration of Hindu deities,
an 'Anti-Conversion Act.'
The Mahasammelan was graced by H.H. Jagadguru
Madhvacharya Sri Vishweshteerth Swami Maharaj, Pejawar Mathadish, Udupi; H.H.
Jagadguru Sri Shankaracharya Vidyanrusiha Bharati, Karveer Pithadish, Kolhapur,
Maharashtra; H.H. Acharya Dharmendraji Swami Maharaj, Panchkhand Pithadish,
Jaipur, Rajasthan; H.H. Bramheshanandacharya Swami, Parampujya Padmanabh Shishya
Sampradaya (Goa) Tapobhoomi, Kundaim Pithadish; H.H. Sadguru Sri Mukundraj
Maharaj; Pujya Kedarji Chaitanya.
The Mahasammelan demanded that:
* A 'Temple Protection Act'be enacted to permanently
curb the deplorable series of murti desecration incidents in Goa and the guilty
be traced and punished
* Punish advertisers and actors who denigrate Hindus deities
* Enact a law to stop the slaughter of cows completely
* Stop aid for 'Haj' pilgrimage with immediate effect
* Re-instate police officers transferred in the 'Vasco Madarasa case'
* Enact an 'Anti-conversion Act'
* Take strict action against Convent Schools that were closed on 29 August
2008 and all schools closed on Goa Liberation Day
* Accord national anthem status to 'Vande Mataram' and make it mandatory to
all schools
* Hang terrorist Mohammad Afzal immediately.
The Mahasammelan also vowed that Hindus would
not sell their votes to any political party; Hindus would not accept financial
aid given for temples with a political motive; and Hindus would only vote
for candidates who work for the interest of the Hindu community.
- The author is Coordinator, Hindu Jagruti
Samiti; its website is www.hindujagruti.org