RSS triggers row by questioning legend behind Onam

September 11, 2016

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 11: As Keralites gear up to celebrate Onam, RSS has triggered a controversy by questioning the legend behind the festival, arguing that it marks the celebration of birth of 'Vamana' (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) and not the homecoming of demon king Mahabali.onam-celebrations

An article published in the Onam special edition of RSS mouthpiece 'Kesari' claimed there was no reference in any mythological scriptures which supports the popular and widely circulated legend that Vamana' had sent Mahabali to the netherworld through deceit and the king visits the land annually to meet his subjects.

Countering the argument, senior CPI(M) leader and state Health Minister K K Shylaja said Onam was celebrated by all irrespective of caste, creed and religion and the attempt of the RSS was to bring back the bygone "upper class hegemony".

It was also a part of RSS's agenda to "hijack the festival", the minister alleged. According to the popular belief in the state, Mahabali's homecoming in the Malayalam month of Chingam to see his subjects is celebrated as 'Thiru Onam' annually, which falls on September 14 this year.

However, the article written by K Unnikrishnan Namboothiri in the RSS magazine argued that Onam was originally celebrated as the birthday of Vamana and not a festivity to mark the homecoming of the demon king.

"There is no such reference or explanation anywhere in mythology or epics to support the story that Mahabali was pushed to the netherworld by Vamana and he visits the land every year to meet his subjects. Then, how did such a false story become prevalent in Kerala?" the article stated.

The write-up claimed that Lord Vishnu had actually "blessed" the demon king and not "punished" him by pushing into 'pathala' (netherworld).

"There is no indication in spiritual texts like 'Bhagavatham' or 'Narayaneeyam' or such other authentic books that Bali was pushed to the netherworld. Instead, such texts say that the noble king had emerged victorious in the trial by Vamana and he was blessed by the God," it said.

The writer also criticised the general picturisation of Mahabali as a man with moustache, potbelly and wearing an 'olakkuda' (traditional palm leaf umbrella).

"It is an attempt by some vested interest to distort the mythical stories and paint in poor light the characters of Hindu Puranas," the writer said, adding that such attempts to destroy Hinduism should be checked.

According to mythology, Onam is connected with Asura' (demon) king Mahabali, under whose reign everyone lived in happiness and equality.

Envious by his popularity, Devas' (Gods) sought the help of Lord Vishnu to get him banished into the netherworld.

But before going down, Mahabali secured a boon from Lord Vishnu to visit his subjects every year on the 'Thiru Onam' day.

The demon king's annual visit is celebrated by Keralites, who lay by their front yards with floral carpets, wear new clothes and prepare a sumptuous feast.

Comments

ali
 - 
Tuesday, 13 Sep 2016

If hindu can follow valmiki (thief)script as holy book, they can trust anything. There is no surprise in onam.

Most of hindu gods looks like demon, what is wrong in worshiping demon king.

Satyameva jayate
 - 
Tuesday, 13 Sep 2016

Another few RSS workers may die soon....ha haa....that is kerala

True indian
 - 
Sunday, 11 Sep 2016

Correction. It's vishnus avatar. Too many gods. Thats why got confused.

True indian
 - 
Sunday, 11 Sep 2016

These rss donno that Fish is shivas avatar. Fish is more holier than cow.
But these people have problem with beef slaughtering which is zero pain in proper halal method.

And fish which die painfully when it comes out of the water.

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After noticing her daughters lying lifeless, mother Shehnaz attempted suicide by consuming poison.

Khairunna (4) mistook pesticide for juice and consumed it while her mother was busy doing household chores. She also reportedly made her four-month-old sister drink. 

Upon seeing the siblings lying lifeless, Shehnaz, fearing her husband and mother-in-law, attempted suicide by consuming poison.

All three were rushed to Yadgir district hospital. The siblings died while their mother is battling for her life.

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News Network
June 21,2020

Mangaluru, June 21: A local court has held notorious serial killer Cyanide Mohan Kumar guilty in the murder of a 25-year-old woman from Kasargod. This is the 20th and the last case of Cyanide Mohan to be tried in the sixth additional district and sessions court. 

According to public prosecutor Jayarama Shetty, the victim was working as a cook in a ladies hostel and got in touch with Mohan Kumar, a teacher. He visited her house thrice and promised to marry her. On July 8, 2009, on the pretext of visiting a temple in Sullia, she left home, never to return. 

They had travelled to Bengaluru and three days later, when her family tried to reach her on phone, he told them that she had gone for a bath and that they were married and would be returning back home soon.

The next day Ramakrishna, a constable from Upparpete police station, found a lady lying unconscious outside the bathroom and he immediately rushed her to a local hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival. Like in all other cases, after staying in a lodge and having sex with the victim, he took her to the KSRTC bus stand and asked her to consume a cyanide laced tablet, stating it was a contraceptive pill. 

He asked her to leave behind the jewellery that she was wearing at the hotel room. An unnatural death report was registered and since none of her relatives had turned up for identification of the body, on July 15,2009 the body was buried.

The moment the Dakshina Kannada district police arrested the serial killer on October 21, 2009 and his pictures were all over the media, the family recognised him and the victim’s younger sister filed a missing complaint. The police had also recovered the victim’s jewellery from the house of Mohan’s second wife and the jeweller from whom he had purchased cyanide had also identified him. Meanwhile, the CID had taken over the case and a charge sheet was filed.

"The report from the Forensic Science Laboratory is crucial in this case as cyanide was found in the victim’s viscera. Mohan over the years has become a legal expert and in this case, he had sought two adjournments," said Jayaram Shetty. Mohan is currently lodged in the Hindalga central jail.
 

Comments

AJIT KUMAR
 - 
Sunday, 21 Jun 2020

shame to keep this man  alive for so many criminal cases, shoot him or hang him immideatly

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The team asked the remaining employees to stay under quarantine in separate rooms.

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According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases have reached 1,637 in India, including 1,466 active cases, 133 cured/discharged/migrated people and 38 deaths.

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