Dalits Pray For Sankaracharya’s Release

The anti-Hindu lobby portrays the Kanchi Sankaracharya as anti-dalit with the motive of dividing the Hindu society.But the reality is otherwise.

The arrest has shocked the dalits of four hamlets in Nagapattinam District and are praying for their release. The 50 odd families in a street in Porayar are called 'Kattunayakans'. They are Scheduled tribes and work as scavengers. In 1992 they wanted to build an Amman (Devi) Temple in their locality. They wrote to the Sankaracharya for assistance. The seer immediately sent a delegation to the temple and the temple was built with his liberal assistance. Not only that, he presented a Kaliamman Idol to the temple.

Natesan, the Head of the Kattunayakans emotionally narrated his meeting with the seer."The Sankaracharya himself explained the right way of worshipping the deity. When some of the local people view us as untouchables he treated us with dignity. When I approached the Mutt for the second Kumbabhishekam (Consecration), the Swamigal sanctioned Rs.10000/- immediately. The temple is here only because of the Swamigal. We are really pained at the recent developments. We pray for the Swamigal's release."

In the nearby Bhudanoor village, the 200 dalit families tell a similar story."The Sankaracharya has lent his helping hand to construct a temple and has donated the idol."

The 50- odd Dalit families of Rajivpuram near Porayar also have similar sentiments. Construction of 'salai Kaliamman temple 'is under way in this locality." The Sankarachatrya has donated money for constructing a temple and has promised to donate the Idol for worship".Thangaiah, a native of Rajivpuram said that the seer was kind enough to visit the temple in June last year when they approached the Mutt for help.

The arrest of the Swamigal has shocked all the members of Rajivpuram. "Swamigal should soon be released" he said. The 105 Dalit families in Irulneekki village near Thiruthuraipoondi in Nagai District where Swamigal was born are agitated.

"The media people are writing all types of things about the Swamigal. The Seer would not have committed the crime and soon he would come out clean." Said Arumugam a villager.

'The Chandrasekhra Rural Development Trust' formed by Jayendra Sraswathi has completed several development projects in Iruklneekki village, The trust has constructed 40 group houses for the dalits. With the co-operation of HUDCO, NABARD and the Tamil Nadu government, a pilot project was carried out in 2001 to make Iruklneekki a model village. The trust has constructed a well- equipped health center in the village which is now functioning with two doctors., five para medical staff and a laboratory technical assistant.