Indian priests fear for their lives in Pashupatinath
TNN 4 September 2009, 07:27pm IST
KATHMANDU: Raghavendra Bhatt and Girish Bhatt were elated last month when they were shortlisted from a panel of several Brahmin priests in India for appointment at the famed Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. But on Friday, 24 hours before their tenure is to start, the two priests from Karnataka are in mortal fear, urging the temple authorities to send them back to India tomorrow and provide security till the airport.
The drastic mood swing came as the pair came under an unprecedented attack within the temple premises. The Pashupatinath temple area turned into an ugly battlefield late afternoon as groups of young men waving the Maoist red flag swarmed the secret room where the two priests had been confined two days ago to fast and undertake holy vows in readiness for the puja ceremony tomorrow.
Waving iron rods and batons, the men broke open the lock on the door of the secret door, dragged the two Indians out and began thrashing them. Amidst cries of "Filthy Indians, go back home" their clothes were torn off, photographs taken in that helpless state and their upavit – the sacred thread – ripped off. As police came to intervene, the men clashed with the posse, heightening the tension that had begun simmering in the area from Sunday. Four men, said to belong to the Young Communist League, the Maoist youth wing, were reportedly arrested. However, there was no immediate official confirmation.
"It’s deplorable that such things should happen in the sacred temple," said Bharat Jangam, the man who is fighting a legal battle opposing the decision of the previous Maoist government to scrap the age-old tradition of appointing priests from southern India and employing Nepali priests instead. "Religion is being politicised in Nepal."
The row was triggered last week after the new government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal okayed the appointment of the two news priests from India. The new appointments had become necessary after three of the five Indian priests resigned following the tumult wreaked during the Maoist government's days.
A struggle committee has been formed of two religious sects – the Sannyasis and the Dashnamis – as well as former Pashupatinth temple officials, who are demanding that Nepali priests be appointed at the 5th century shrine. Though the committee said it has no political affiliation, Friday’s attack is being attributed to the Maoists, who last year too had stormed the temple.
The tension Friday almost led to the abeyance of the ritual of the deity’s evening bath. However, after police beefed up security, the chief priest, India’s Mahabaleshwar Bhatt, finally agreed to go to the temple almost two hours after the scheduled time to perform the rite.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is said to have taken note of the matter. A security officer was sent to the Pashupatineth temple to look into the incident. India's major parties have been expressing concern at the temple row, asking Nepal not to hurt the sentiments of Hindus worldwide.
Indian priests fear for their lives in Pashupatinath - South Asia - World - NEWS - The Times of India
TNN 4 September 2009, 07:27pm IST
KATHMANDU: Raghavendra Bhatt and Girish Bhatt were elated last month when they were shortlisted from a panel of several Brahmin priests in India for appointment at the famed Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. But on Friday, 24 hours before their tenure is to start, the two priests from Karnataka are in mortal fear, urging the temple authorities to send them back to India tomorrow and provide security till the airport.
The drastic mood swing came as the pair came under an unprecedented attack within the temple premises. The Pashupatinath temple area turned into an ugly battlefield late afternoon as groups of young men waving the Maoist red flag swarmed the secret room where the two priests had been confined two days ago to fast and undertake holy vows in readiness for the puja ceremony tomorrow.
Waving iron rods and batons, the men broke open the lock on the door of the secret door, dragged the two Indians out and began thrashing them. Amidst cries of "Filthy Indians, go back home" their clothes were torn off, photographs taken in that helpless state and their upavit – the sacred thread – ripped off. As police came to intervene, the men clashed with the posse, heightening the tension that had begun simmering in the area from Sunday. Four men, said to belong to the Young Communist League, the Maoist youth wing, were reportedly arrested. However, there was no immediate official confirmation.
"It’s deplorable that such things should happen in the sacred temple," said Bharat Jangam, the man who is fighting a legal battle opposing the decision of the previous Maoist government to scrap the age-old tradition of appointing priests from southern India and employing Nepali priests instead. "Religion is being politicised in Nepal."
The row was triggered last week after the new government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal okayed the appointment of the two news priests from India. The new appointments had become necessary after three of the five Indian priests resigned following the tumult wreaked during the Maoist government's days.
A struggle committee has been formed of two religious sects – the Sannyasis and the Dashnamis – as well as former Pashupatinth temple officials, who are demanding that Nepali priests be appointed at the 5th century shrine. Though the committee said it has no political affiliation, Friday’s attack is being attributed to the Maoists, who last year too had stormed the temple.
The tension Friday almost led to the abeyance of the ritual of the deity’s evening bath. However, after police beefed up security, the chief priest, India’s Mahabaleshwar Bhatt, finally agreed to go to the temple almost two hours after the scheduled time to perform the rite.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is said to have taken note of the matter. A security officer was sent to the Pashupatineth temple to look into the incident. India's major parties have been expressing concern at the temple row, asking Nepal not to hurt the sentiments of Hindus worldwide.
Indian priests fear for their lives in Pashupatinath - South Asia - World - NEWS - The Times of India