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VOL. 28, NO. 18, Jan 09, 2009 (Paush 25 2065 B.S.)
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Act Against Faith
Prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's decision to release old Indian priests and appoint two of his party's sympathizers sparks new religious controversy hurting the faith of devotees
By KESHAB POUDEL
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Pashupati Temple: In controversy |
The day when apex court issued an interim order (January 2) to maintain status quo regarding the controversy over the appointment of two
Nepali priests by prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Maoist leader and Minister for Culture and State Restructuring
Gopal Kiranti forcefully broke the lock of main gate of Pashupatinath Temple and pushed the newly appointed two Nepalis priests in the core areas of shrine.
Although some devotees opposed the move, they were outnumbered by workers of Maoist affiliated sister organization Newa Mukti Morcha under its leader Pawan Man Shakya.
The moment two Nepalis priests were put inside the temple by using state power and muscle power, more than eight hundred old practice of not allowing anyone inside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine except the Indian priests of Dravid Brahmin selected by Sankarachrya came to an end.
According to a book written by late Kulchandra Koirala and published by Royal Nepal Academy, Nepal's Pashupatinath, the tradition of appointing highly qualified Indian citizens was practiced since 11th century under a religious decree by Shankaracharya of Kashi Agnimatha in 1158 Bikram Sambat and 222 Nepal Sambat. This practice was given legal consent by King Girvanyudha Bir Bikram Shah, son of Ran Bahadur Shah in 1867 BC or 1910 AD.
The decree states that Dravid Brahmins from south of Vindhychal like Maharastra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu or Andhra Pradesh are eligible for
the priesthood in Pashupati. The basic qualification for Bhattas is that they should be working in Shankaracharya's math with Shivarchan (Shiva puja), and have qualification of preaching Vedas. The practice of appointment of priests is that first they were chosen by Shankarcharyamath and then appointed by king under recommendation of Badaguruju. Once they accept Nepali citizenship, the priests are automatically dismissed. They will remain in the position till they abide the norms.
After a log gap, Pashupati Area Development Trust Act was enacted in 1987 abolishing the old system and making queen as chairperson of the trust and king as its guardian. The second amendment of act replaced the whole system but it retained the system of appointment and dismissal of priests.
This practice was continued till 2006 June. Under the first new Loktantrick government led by Girija Prasad Koirala, the act was amended and placed prime minister as the guardian of the Pasuhpati Area Development Trust handing over the authority exercised by monarchy to PM.
According to Minister Kirati, as a guardian of the Trust, PM has the sole legal right to dismiss and appoint priests at Pashupati. "What I have done is in accordance with the act and law," said prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who led 12 years long insurgency and
claimed to have hidden 8 of those years in India. "I directed the trust to appoint Nepalis after Indian Bhattas tabled their resignation," said Dahal, who joined mainstream politics under 12 point agreement signed in New Delhi.
From abruptly suspending the Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990 to promulgation of new interim constitution and finally abolishing centuries old institution of monarch without giving any time to debate, Nepal has seen all kinds of magic-like situation in the last two and half years.
Like all the past actions, acceptance of resignation of Indian Bhttais and appointment of two Nepalis priests Bishnu Prasad Dahal and Saligram Dhakal also were made public in similar way. Trust unilaterally decided to change this practice.
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People protesting against decision: Save lord Shiva |
Similar way, the worships at the lord Pashupatinath temple were suspended for five days. According to Nepalese priests (Bhandari), this is for the first time that Puja were suspended, after the period of king Rana Bahadur Shah. After untimely death of his queen, Shah had ordered to close Puja in Pashupati.
"It is not an issue of appointment or acceptance of resignation but the question is the breaking of centuries of practice and faith of the people. Maoists hurt the sentiments of Hindus by ignoring to respect the rule of law," said Shivasharan Rajbhadari, second line of priest of Pashuptinath. "We have made all our efforts to continue the tradition of performing Puja but it is the government which violated all the norms, law and practice."
With the backing from India, Maoists signed 12 points agreement with seven party alliance in New Delhi. After successfully launching Janandolan II, Maoist also openly joined the politics. Whenever Maoists face difficulties, some Indian political leaders came to Kathmandu to defend their actions. Whether the leaders of rightist Bharatiya Janta Party or centrist Indian National Congress and Communist Party Of India, all of them backed Maoists in the last two and half years.
When Maoists were in the process of appointment of two Nepali's priests ending centuries old practices of recruiting Indian priests, Indian political leader of Nationalist Congress D.P. Tripathy was in the capital to meet prime minister Dahal."Maoist should be given adequate time to run the government. What Maoist leadership is doing is quite good job following the constitution and rule of law," said Tripathy in his interview with Ghtna Ra Vichar, a vernacular weekly on (December 31, 2007).
Political parties agreed to give pardon to all atrocities committed by Maoists bringing them in national mainstream as a hero of revolution.
"We are not opposing their entry into mainstream politics. However, Maoists played against the faith of people. Even if the old practices were restored, it will take a log time to recover," said Bharat Jungam, a civil society member who filed a petition in the court seeking stay order. "Declining to accept the verdict of court, prime minister Prachanda has shown that there he does not care the rule of law."
Breaking of Tradition
They broke laws, constitution, traditions and practices one after another in the last two and half years of Loktantra. In breaking the laws, traditions, rules, constitution and practices, Nepal has set a new record in the last two and half years.
In the process, they even didn't mind breaking the norms and practices set centuries ago regarding the worship of lord Pashupatinath. Built in around fifth century, the lord Pashupatinath Temples maintains its own traditions and practices regarding its management including appointment, dismissal of priests and practice of worships.
For the first time in the last many centuries, there is also break from this tradition and there was no regular pujas or prayers which used to performed by Bhattas (priests) appointed under nearly 800-year-old practice whose written record can be traced back to 199 years.
With the abrupt appointment of two Nepalis priests and dismissal of three main priests by Maoist prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, there is a new controversy regarding intention of Maoist government.
"It is a good idea to appoint Nepali priests at Pashupati but at some point one needs to respect the law and traditions. It does not
matter for those who don't have faith in god but such act will hurt the faith of people who abide by the god. By breaking this tradition and practice, Maoists have committed a blunder," said Dr.Rishikeshav Raj Regmi, a cultural anthropologist. 'We may have our own system but the temple belongs to all the Hindus around the world and the decision hurts all the Hindus."
Pashupati's incident shows that the country will have to face a dire situation when evil forces are encouraged to destabilize the country.
This could be just a beginning. As it is said, extremism eats its own mother.
