The Koodalmanickyam Temple is an ancient Hindu place of worship in Kerala. Temple rules determined by sastras date back to antiquity. As in most Hindu temples, the Koodalmanickyam temple is also a centre that encourages and nourishes all forms of temple art. This includes sculpting, painting, Vaastu shastra, architecture, Hindu devotional music, all dance forms that celebrate the Hindu spiritual and cultural traditions.
As all art forms are a glorification of our sacred to instil into and teach Hindus the importance of Bhakti, in some temples, like Koodalmaickyam, there is an offering by devotees to dance, sing or play a musical instrument, narrate the glory of Bhagwan, etc., within temple walls, that is in the Koothamabala (a mandapa like a stage, in front of the presiding Moorthy). A performance in the Koothamabala is not just an artistic performance. It is a dedication to Bhagwan, an artistic yagna to Bhagawan. As such all such performances must be done by those who believe in the Hindu concept of Bhagawan, especially the Moorthy in front of which such a performance is being done.
Thus, an atheist, a non-believer, or an Abrahamic cannot perform in the Koothamabalam. How can an Abrahamic who believes that only their God is the right and only God, or an atheist who does not believe in the concept of God at all, then be permitted to perform in the Koothamabalam?
Among the hundreds of thousands of temples in Kerala, only around 20 to 25 have performances within the temple walls in front of the inner sanctum, (Koothaambalam). Other temples have stages set outside the inner walls of the temple but within the outer walls, thus for ages, artistes from all religions and political affiliations have been invited and welcomed to perform, during Hindu festivals.
As most Hindu temples come under the control of the state government, it is the political party that is in power that unfortunately controls Hindu temples. In Kerala, currently, it is anti-Hindu Communists who control the temple administration.
Performances in the Koothamabalam are usually by invitation or the Devaswom Board, issues a notification to apply. This application strictly notifies all who read it that, only Hindus may apply.
Recently, in Koodalmanickyam temple, the Devaswom Board issued such an application. Among all the applications that came, there were two applications. One by a Sowmya Sukumaran and one by Mansiya VP, both who were then invited to dance.
On the day of the performance, both dancers arrived at the temple, but the Devaswom Board, headed by CPM leader, Pradeep Menon, refuses them the right to dance on that ground that they were non-Hindus. Both the women then went back…and wrote posts citing discrimination of artists by Hindus in Koodalmanickyam temple. These posts especially that of Mansiya’s gets a lot of traction, mostly from the Left cabal and Abrahamics. The temple priest is immediately blamed for this racism, even though he has almost no say in such matters. Brahmin bashing takes on a frightening hue and colour at such times in Kerala.
It is confusing as to why the Communists, in the Devasom Board did not recognise, both Mansiya and Soumya, as both are celebrated Communists, married to Communists carrying Hindu names?
Why did both Soumya and Mansiya not read the notification before applying, as it clearly states that only Hindus need to apply? You do not become a Hindu by just marrying someone.
Mansiya is an atheist with Left leanings. Soumya is a Christian who claims to have converted to Hinduism in the Arya Samaj. However, she refused to show any document to support her claim.
The timing of this so-called Hindu racism against non-Hindus is exactly like many left cabal plots designed to put Hindus on the defensive, especially when an Abrahamic is caught openly show casing his/her fanatism.
A few weeks ago, a Muslim judge Kamal Pasha forced a Mohiniyattam dancer from completing her performance at around 8:00 pm in a school, because the noise of the music was irritating to him, as he lived nearby. This dancer who was married to a Christian Communist leader and who herself is a Leftist, was shocked and upset at the fatwa issued to her. She then made an emotional FB post that went viral, with predictable backlash from all dharmic people.
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