TIRUVANNAMALAI: After Hindu organisations opposed Dravida Kazhagam’s ‘Thaali Akatturm’ programme, a group of Sadhus in the temple town became the latest to board the bandwagon.
The ‘holy men’ decided to perform special ‘pinda pooja’ (organised as part of the final rites on the 16th day after death of a person) on Wednesday for the spouses of 21 women who removed their thaali on April 14 in Chennai.
Periyarists, however, called the pooja a publicity stunt by the so called ‘sadhus and sanyasis’ and said it would help to popuralise Periyar’s ideology of equality and self-respect for women.
The special pooja would be performed at about 10.30 am on Wednesday at Karmakariya Kulam near Ramana Ashramam along the Girivalam path. Pinda Gomatha Pooja, according to Hindu customs, is part of the final rites. “It is performed on the 16th day after the death of a person with a belief that it helps free the ‘aatma’ (soul) of the dead from the circle of rebirth,” said a 51-year-old Sadhu, R Mohan of Sadhus and Devotees Joint Committee.
The sadhus have also submitted a letter to Tiruvannamalai town police seeking permission for the programme.
As strong believers and followers of the rituals and customs of Hinduism, they would perform the special poojas and offer the pindam (rice cake mixed with jaggery and sesame) to cows.
“The sacred thread round the neck of a woman is removed only after the death of the woman’s husband, according to the belief in Hinduism. Since, 21 women removed their thaali in the recent programme by Dravida Kazhagam, it indicated that their husbands were no more,” said another Sadhu.
Admitting that it was an individual’s choice to wear or remove the thaali, but the act of the women in full public view was disrespect to beliefs of Hindus, he added, “hence, we wish to perform the pooja to uphold the values.”
A total of 21 sadhus would perform the poojas on behalf of the families and the women who removed their thaalis.
Several believers of Hindu customs have come forward to give rice, jaggery, sesame and dhothis and shirts to the owners of the cows that will be brought for the pooja.
“I am a believer of the rich Hindu traditions and customs. So, I want to be part of the pooja,” said J Neelakandan of Tiruvannamalai.
Neelakandan is planning to give rice, jaggery and sesame for the pooja.
Calling it a politically motivated stunt, the school teacher R Krishnamurthy (37) said, “We don’t believe in superstition and dissuade people from following them which demeans equality to women.”
R Krishnamurthy’s wife, A Sangeetha, a resident of Dharmapuri, was one among the 21 women who removed their thaalis.
Fifty five year-old S Vasu of
Kodungaiyur said the special pooja is nothing to him. “If they (Sadhus) want to
perform such pooja, they can do it as per their wish. It will never bother me
and not affect my life in any way,” opinions Vasu’s wife Vimala Devi (38), who
has also removed the thaali.
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