Will worship 'weaken the enemy'? KCR's elaborate yagna raises eyebrows
'Yagnas won't fetch votes,' says a rationalist-critic; BJP dismisses tantric rituals as 'black magic'
Come elections, politicians hit the streets on the campaign trail. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao additionally take the divine route.
In a desperate attempt to seek the intervention of the gods in an Assembly election that doesn't seem to be tilted in his favour, KCR recently performed a three-day big fire ceremony presided over by a renowned Devi worshipper. Critics say this fire ritual is aimed at influencing voters ahead of the November 30 election.
The Rajashyamala Sahita Subramanyeswara Yagam was performed under the guidance of Visakhapatnam Sarada Peethadhipati Swami Swaroopanandendra, who has 'popularised' goddess Rajashayamala among political leaders.
Ostensibly, KCR has been conducting the elaborate ceremony involving 170 priests from across southern India for the prosperity of the state since its formation.
Fire ceremony ritual
Since it has been KCR’s convention to perform a fire ceremony before any major political activity, the latest ritual assumed political overtones as his Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party is facing a formidable challenge from the Congress. BRS workers believe the yagam will steer the path for a third consecutive victory for the party in what promises to be a tough Assembly battle.
Swamy Swaroopanandendra, who oversaw the entire ceremony for three days ended Thursday, has built a temple for Rajashyamala Ammavaru at the Sarada Peetham in Visakhapatnam.
KCR's counterpart in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is not far behind. Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has also visited the ashram to meet the holy man, as have several other politicians of late.
Jagan performed the Rajashyamala Yagam twice before the general elections of 2019 and in May this year. But N Chandrababu Naidu as Chief Minister between 2014 and 2019 was unmoved by the Swamiji. Even then, Jagan, as the Opposition leader then, became a VVIP visitor to the ashram.
Now, with the Swami's growing importance in Telangana, a Rajashyamala Ammavari temple is coming up in about eight acres of land in the prime locality of Kokapet in Hyderabad. This will be the first such temple in Telangana.
A great believer in the power of yagas, KCR often performs them. In 2022, he undertook one such ritual at his party office in New Delhi for the success of his entry into national politics.
Elaborate preparations
For the present, a huge yagashala was set up at the CM’s farmhouse in Markook Mandal in Telangana’s Siddipet district. It commenced on Wednesday amid Vedic mantra recitations by 170 priests drawn from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The CM and his wife Shobha performed pujas to the Rajashyamala Yantra and Subrahmanyeswar Shadavarana Yantra.
After performing several prayers, including to the cow, the couple presented special clothes to the priests, signalling the start of the rituals. Swami Swaroopanandendra prayed to goddess Rajasyamala, adorned as Vanadurga, and invoked divine blessings to ensure the success of the ceremony that was attended by KCR and his wife on all three days.On the third and final day, the ritual culminated after the recital of three lakh Mula Matras of Rajashyamal Devi.
Vedic scholar and priest Dr Mohana Krishna Bhargava said Rajashyamala Ammavaru or Matangi Devi is a powerful Goddess and is mainly worshipped for success in one’s venture, including in politics.
Although performed in Vedic style, Rajashyamala Yagam comes under the Vamachara tradition which means a tantric ritual, he said.
“The Rajashyamala worship is one of Dasa Maha Vidyas. Each Vidya is aimed at acquiring special powers. Rajashyamala Devi worship or Raja Matangi worship is also called Sri Vidya Upasana. Performing Rajashymala Devi Yagam provides secret powers to gain control over enemies, attracting people to oneself, and gaining mastery over arts,” he told The Federal.
The worship is also said to weaken the enemy.
Rationalist speaks
Noted rationalist and science propagator Babu Gogineni dismissed this interpretation. It is a brazen attempt to mislead the public, he insisted.
“Yagas won't fetch votes. KCR knows well that such a ceremony gives results only in enabling situations. KCR performed Rajashyamala Yagam in December 2022 for the success of BRS. Where is the BRS now?” he asked.
He added that superstitions which even lead to deaths were still practiced in many states including Telangana. “Spreading scientific knowledge for a couple hours is more beneficial for the society than a three-day yagna involving huge expenditure,” he said.
BJP leader Bandi Sanjay called the ceremony “nothing but a Kshudra Puja” or black magic. “KCR is trying to influence voters through some tantric spell… He is secretly performing Kshudra Puja to attract voters as he is not sure of winning the election democratically,” said Bandi, the BJP candidate from Karimnagar Assembly constituency.