Kerala temple refutes DK Shivakumar’s ’black magic’ charge: "Disappointing remark"

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, June 01, 2024: The Raja Rajeshwari Temple in Kerala on Friday refuted Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s allegation that black magic rituals were being performed inside the premises to harm him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

 

On Thursday, Shivakumar alleged that rituals, including animal sacrifices, were taking place in the vicinity of the temple. The Congress leader claimed that he had knowledge of people who were carrying out these rituals, alleging they were from Karnataka.

"This is being done against me and the CM. A ’Shatru Bhairavi Yagya’ (fire sacrifice) is being carried out near Kerala’s Raja Rajeshwari Temple to eliminate enemies. ’Panchabali’ (five sacrificial items) is being offered. A nice red goat, 21 buffaloes, three black sheep and five pigs. As a result of the fire sacrifice, the enemy will approach ’Aghoris’ (a sect of Hindu ascetics)," he had said.

Denying Shivakumar’s claims, Madhavan, a trustee of the temple board, said a temple should not be dragged into politics.

"There is no such puja that takes place in Rajarajeshwara Temple. There are no nearby places where animals like goats and buffaloes are sacrificed, as he (DK Shivakumar) claims. We would know if there was any such activity, but still, we checked about it. No such puja can be done without the outer world knowing," Madhavan said.

Madhavan expressed disappointment over the allegations, emphasising that the only rituals performed at the temple are traditional Brahmin pujas.

"It’s such a disappointing statement. We express our dissent in dragging the temple into this. No such puja takes place here. It’s just Brahmin puja that takes place. That’s all we want to say," he added.

Supporting Madhavan’s stance, MV Govindan, CPI-M State Secretary and MLA of the Taliparamba assembly constituency where the temple is situated, labelled Shivakumar’s statement as "madness".

"Taliparamba Rajarajeshwara Temple is one of the most important Hindu temples in the country. There are no such sacrifices as part of ’Shatrusamhara’ puja performed in Taliparamba like the old temple," Govindan said.

The Left leader also suggested that Shivakumar’s comments were aimed at creating a communal divide.

Courtesy: India Today