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For the first time, seers from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are planning to launch a drive against untouchability.
Seers and sadhus will join hands cutting across community lines to spread the message of equality. They will campaign to allow people from weaker sections to perform pujas in village temples. As a result, all the 32,000 small temples that are going to be freed from government control in accordance with chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s decision, will have nitya pujas performed by local devotees.
A convention of seers and saints,
with participation of about 1,000 spiritual heads at Guntur on July 12,
is expected to come up with a new slogan against untouchability.
Seers of different peethanis, who
assembled in Hyderabad on June 21, reportedly discussed the problems caused
by the practice of untouchability.
According to sources, there were two basic realisations among the seers. One, the menace of untouchability is leading to conversions and the spread of other religious campaigns in villages, and two, the temples are lacking in care due to untouchability.
When contacted by this correspondent, Hampi Viroopaksha Vidyaranya Mahapeetham Seer Vidyaranya Bharati said, “Untouchability was not a part of ancient Hindu dharma. It is a practice adopted later for the benefit of certain sections. So, as heads of various cults, we need to campaign against it.”
“After all, temples are places that are intended to establish and strengthen social relations in villages. They are places of peace and we wont that holy feeling revived,” he added.
The convenor of the newly formed Dharmacharyula Mandali Swaroopanandendra Saraswathi blamed untouchability on the British. “The practice of untouchability was strategically introduced during the British period, may be for their administrative convenience. What purpose does it serve to the Hindu dharma?” he asked.
More interestingly, the seers realised that Arundhati (wife of Vasishta), who belonged to a lower caste, plays a crucial role in a Hindu marriage. “A marriage is not complete without the couple watching the Arundhati star. Such is the importance of Arundhati in the dharma,” the seers explain.
They also cite the example of the respect for the Ramayana, which was penned by Vaimiki, who belonged to a backward caste.
Sri Ramachandra Gopalakrishna Mutt’s (Adilabad) 10th seer Yogananda Saraswathi said, “It is high time we take interest in the protection and promotion of Hindu dharma.”
The seers denied that the realisation
of the need for unity among seers and sadhus is warranted by the attack
on the Kanchi Mutt.
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