SPEAK NO TAMIL: Sanskrit is a must for mantras, says the Kanchi seer

Religious fervour is about the only sentiment that kumbhabhishekam-a ritual performed at the Manimutheeswarar temple in Karur district of Tamil Nadu-evokes every year. But on September 9, the fervour assumed inimical overtones when the discerning puritans of Vedic culture spotted a glaring discrepancy: the mantras were being recited in Tamil, not Sanskrit, considered the language of gods. The issue might have fizzled out but for the enthused intervention of Sri Jayendra Saraswati, Shankaracharya of the Kanchi muth, and atheist DMK chief M. Karunanidhi. With the seer emphasising the need to stick to tradition and Karunanidhi upping the rationalist ante, the debate on the language of divinity has turned into a war of words.

Though the state has seen a smattering of demands for the puja to be performed in Tamil, the issue peaked on the eve of kumbhabhishekam when two youths threatened to commit suicide if the mantras were not recited in Tamil.

The controversy started when the Shankaracharya wrote a letter to the temple authorities, saying it was improper to discard the tradition. But Karunanidhi bared his atheist roots: "Anyone who disrespects Tamil has no place in Tamil Nadu. Let the gods who do not understand Tamil leave the state." The Shankaracharya promptly retorted, "What does Karunanidhi have to do with matters of gods?" Muslims offer prayers in Arabic; why doesn't he insist that Islam be practised in Tamil, he asked.

"Let the gods who don't understand Tamil leave the state." M. Karunanidhi, DMK President

The bristling repartee had a cascading effect, with rationalist organisations threatening a siege of the Kanchi muth to protest against the "disrespect shown to Tamil". Speaking to India Today, the Shankaracharya said, "There is no question of disrespecting Tamil. According to Shaivite principles, stotram comprises devotional songs and chanting, and shastram deals with rituals and chants. Tamil devotional songs continue to be sung in temples, but when it comes to shastram, we have to stick to tradition (which doesn't allow Tamil mantras)."

While Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, known to have a soft corner for traditional Hindu religious practices, kept mum, her ally and Dravidar Kazhagam leader K. Veeramani supported Karunanidhi. Karur district secretary Anbu added a casteist tinge by saying the Brahmins were taking advantage of the situation by citing traditions. Counters the seer: "It is sad that caste and politics are being dragged into the issue. It will not only harm the Hindu religion but also the Tamil language. "

Rationalists argue that Sanskrit, understood by only a few, should not be used in rituals. "Do you understand a baby's lisping?" retorts the seer. "Do you throw the baby away because you can't follow it's language?"

Karunanidhi's outburst is not surprising coming as it does when the DMK is drifting away from the BJP and the AIADMK is moving closer to the ruling party. He did try to be soft during his courtship of the BJP but after severing ties with the state unit and sections of the Parivar lobbied for the DMK's ouster from the NDA, he has been projecting a rationalist image. Now the Jayalalithaa Government may issue instructions for maintenance of a status quo, but the DMK, which faces a bankruptcy of issues, may well rake up another round of controversy.