Kundapur: Bandh call for shifting Swami Vimalananda's tomb evokes good response


Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jun 12: The call for voluntary Kollur bandh in support of the demand to exhume the body of Swami Vimalananda, and shift the tomb built in his honour elsewhere, received tremendous response on Wednesday June 11.

The people and organizations which gave this bandh call have been insisting that the body of Swami Vimalananda has been buried within the periphery of Goddess Mookambika Temple here, and a tomb was built there against established customs and contrary to religious beliefs by which this temple is bound.

The local entrepreneurs and businessmen had downed their shutters since morning, while auto rickshaws and other vehicles plying on hire remained parked, in support of the bandh call. Buses and private vehicles which came from outside moved as usual. The bus stand and neighbourhood of the temple bore a deserted look because of the bandh call, and devotees who reached the town without prior knowledge about the bandh call faced some inconvenience.

On Wednesday morning, hundreds of people from Kollur and nearby villages together approached Nityananda Ashram here and handed over a letter to the head of the hermitage, Jayanand, demanding shifting of the tomb which they claimed was built against established religious customs. They advised him to agree to shift the tomb of the Swami to a place away from temple and amicably agree for the settlement of this dispute without allowing it to swell. They said they are agreeable to support the activities of the Ashram as before, once the tomb is shifted.

Jayanand told the people that a decision to bury the Swami's body had been taken when he was alive, and that the Ashram will never agree to the proposal to exhume his body. He also expressed his firm resolve to resist all attempts to force the Ashram to shift the tomb from its current position.

Thousands of protesters gathered in front of the temple at 3 pm, and went in a procession through the main road of Kollur. They reached the local gram panchayat office, and handed a petition there, demanding for shifting of the Samadhi. The protesters then returned to Swarnamukhi dais of the temple and held public meeting, besides raising slogans for conserving ancient customs and shifting of the tomb.

Gram panchayat president, Laxmi Aithal, taluk panchayat member, Ramesh Ganiga, temple chief priests, Narsi Narasimha Adiga, Sridhar Adiga, N Govinda Adiga, Tantri Ramachandra Adiga, and advocates, N Srikant Adiga and Nagesh Sherugar were present.

Those who addressed the meeting reminded the people that Kollur temple is backed by thousands of years of history and called for not allowing the holy environment there to get vitiated by breaking customs. They said that demand for shifting of the tomb was supported for maintaining the sanctity of the place, and not for anyone's prestige. They expressed their resolve to intensify the protest if the district administration and government do not take the initiative to shift the Swami's tomb soon.

Several local leaders like Chandra Balegar, and president of Temple Employees Association, Santosh Kottary, led the protesters.

Sri Vimalananda Swami, who had arrived at Kollur from Ganeshapuri of Thane district in Mumbai in 1966 on the suggestion of Nityananda Swami, had established the Nithyananda Ashram near Kollur. He passed away on June 2.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Shweta, Kalyan

    Tue, Jun 24 2014

    Naig nai paghe
    Jatig jati paghe
    please stop creating issue on nonsense topic like caste
    When the samdhaji was built was the head & villagers sleeping and now they realize the fact it should not have been built
    People dont let the saint live when they are alive n even after they die

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • madhu, mangalore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    If sanctity of the place is motive behind this demand then all the tombs must be moved not just vimalananda's tomb .If caste is involved in this then tomb should stay where it is.I feel pity for those people who degrade their own castes .

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Ajay., Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    What is not mentioned here is that the reason for this dispute is caste.
    Swami Vimalanada is a lower caste while the temple is upper caste. Even in this day and age people are fighting over caste, which means caste system has become stronger not weaker.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Shivappa, Mangalore

    Sat, Jun 14 2014

    Shivappa,
    what is this low caste high caste issue?
    it is a public temple and it is for everybody.
    swamiji's soul should rest in peace in heaven.
    no samadhi shall be allowed within the temple premises whether upper or lower or whatever caste
    don't bring silly arguments here

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • JP,

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    What is the issue here? Inside job for power/money.
    Dinesh poojary what is happening in your kaundapur?

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohandas Kapikad, Mangaluru

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    All Ancient Temples in India has its own tadition-Belif-Rules-Customs. Since Centuries this tradition is followed, & in Temple related almost all court cases this matter is considered, as a 'rule by tradition & custom'. I feel it is better to respect the tradition custom & rule, & resolve the matter accordingly.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • madhu, mangalore

    Sat, Jun 14 2014

    who put those rules and traditions whether lower castes had any saying in those rules and tradition ? .

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    As it is we are having all types of controversies at religious places of significance. This cutting across religious lines.
    Murder, robbery, fight for positions, embezzlement of funds,
    favoritism, nepotism , mistrust among trustees, groupism etc all these have become synonymous with
    important religious centers.
    This is an entirely new one which has taken shape and God only knows how many more are to come ! Cannot really believe what's happening...

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE

    Thu, Jun 12 2014

    KOLLUR MOKHAMBIKAMMA HAS A UNIQUE Place in Indian religious spot.The historical & Holiness of the place should preserved and I think locals and devotees are right in their demand.

    DisAgree [15] Agree [51] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Kundapur: Bandh call for shifting Swami Vimalananda's tomb evokes good response



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.