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| Thanjavur big temple dedicated to god Shiva. ndia.com |
When it comes to world famous Thanjavur Big temple (Brihadiswara temple) dedicated god Shiva, among the Netas (politicians) or Arasialvathis of any political affiliation there lies an undertone of subtle fear or some kind of superstition that prevents them from visiting the temple through main portals.
In last two decades or so during the election time a preponderance of ruling party members on campaign train are bogged down by the apprehension of misfortune, a sort of ever-challenging phobia that had made them skip many historic events at the Big temple. If necessity arises their participation is a low-key one. For example the historic event marking the completion of 1000 years millenium celebration (September, 2010) at this of this UNESCO recognized World heritage site, an engineering marvel made entirely of hard rocks mined 35 to 40 km away from this area passed off as a just an important event during the DMK regime headed by Late Kalaignar Karunanidhi.
At the beginning of the last consecration ceremony of the temple_Kumbhabisekam in 1997 misfortune struck and in the fire mishap in the Yaga Sala 48 people lost their lives and more than that number injures primarily due to stampede.
The DMK regime being cautious as they were in June 2010 shifted the venue of the 'World Classical Tamil Conference' to Coimbatore in June 2010.
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| wrytin.com |
At the consecration of the temple on 5 February, 2020 besides the Maratha Royal family members, led by the Prince, Babaji Rajah Bhonsle Chattrapathi no politicians from the ruling party ADMK attended the event - the kumbhabhishekam, held after 23 years.
At the annual Sathaya Vizha (November 3, the legendary ruler's birth anniversary, a state event.) to celebrate the birth anniversary of the great ruler Rajaraja, local politicians and representatives from the ruling government never went inside the temple and attended the puja rituals. On that day thy would normally garland the Rajarajan statue installed out side the temple in the park just across the Hospital road. They also shun Sathaya Vizha celebrations on the evening of that day.
A couple of media reports pointed out that this year 2023 when the Chithirai festival was held between April and early May at the big temple, local netas from Thanjavur and other nearby towns never participated in the puja rituals like at flag-hoisting -Kodiyetram on the temple premises - very first ritual marking the beginning of the Thiruvizha. Nor did they show of at Theerthavari ritual in the Sivaganga tank or vidaiyattru event on the temple premise. This marks the culmination of the festival.
Even during the recent Ther Thiruvizha - therottam on the first of May this year local netas were deliberately absent except mayor and a few others The ther - Chariot after puja rituals, was flagged off at the Ther shed on West Main Street and pulled reverentially by the District Collector and other prominent people. Local politicians' absence at the therottam is a mystery. The crux of the matter is some of the local politicians do visit other temples and never lag behind to hold religious rituals in their families.
It appears politicians of various hues and political ideology, including those from the Dravidian will never go closer to the edifice - Big temple built by Rajaraja Chola who was a true devotee of Shiva and an unbiased administrator to whom welfare of his subjects was more important than other things.
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| .coolnsmart.com/ |
Superstitions have been in India since ancient times and it is retrograde and will retard the progress of the society. These beliefs don't have any logic behind them. Nor are there well proven theories or evidences to substantiate them. When entering a sanctified holy place and be near the divine power, superstition is nothing but cowardice. Therefore there is no room for superstition where almighty is enshrined.
https://www.deccanherald.com/content/59116/hex-fears-doom-temple-gala.html
