tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post2388182692702358306..comments2024-03-18T16:00:06.312+05:30Comments on Malhar: Buddhism and Jainism in KeralaP.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-63389421759263189132012-10-01T12:20:13.247+05:302012-10-01T12:20:13.247+05:30Thanks you Manish.Thanks you Manish.P.N. Subramanianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-12400375432842296052012-09-23T20:02:17.605+05:302012-09-23T20:02:17.605+05:30Please read more about "jainism in Wayanad (K...Please read more about "jainism in Wayanad (Kerala)" at:<br /><br />http://jainsamaj.org/rpg_site/literature2.php?id=636&cat=42Manish Jainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04575587557438210924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-70297717071526309372009-10-29T14:50:08.372+05:302009-10-29T14:50:08.372+05:30Obviously Buddhist and Jainism heritage has been t...Obviously Buddhist and Jainism heritage has been total destroyed in kerala more than any other place. It is surprising that on the ground there has been so much hatred against these religions. Even when i visited Kallil temple the priests were behaving funnily. When we started dicussing Buddhism or the statue is so well hidden on top with asbestos roof, we discovered the same and took photograph. I think Kalamukha sect has been responsible for such vandalism. However it is sad that the heritage has been literaly consigned to flame.De Guide Travelougeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13147571985556354381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-27831569037545280152009-02-24T09:33:00.000+05:302009-02-24T09:33:00.000+05:30Dear Shrikishen,It would be interesting if you cou...Dear Shrikishen,<BR/>It would be interesting if you could contribute an article on Bharani as perceived by you. (palikara@gmail.com)P.N. Subramanianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-32849042051662487142009-02-23T14:17:00.000+05:302009-02-23T14:17:00.000+05:30Hi, I have some thoughts that i would like to shar...Hi, <BR/><BR/>I have some thoughts that i would like to share. I too am from Kerala, and I want to comment on the section related to Kodungalur Bharani. I have attended that festival several times, and my family has a strong devotion to this temple. My fascination with it has given me impetus to research the matter through more academic, and less religiously-oriented, venues.<BR/><BR/>Remember, in the passage which you had quoted from Gentes, the theory of "driving out the Buddhists" was offered as the second of 3 possibile explanations for the rites of Kavu-Thindal. <BR/><BR/>I have read both Obyeskere's and Induchudan's studies on the subject, and I would whole-heartedly agree with them that Buddhism had a lot to do with the formation of Kodungalur, as well as with the formation of South Indian culture in general. <BR/><BR/>However, I dont think Kavu Thindal could relate very much to anti-Buddhist activities on the behalf of emerging Brahmanism, especially since Brahmins consider Barani to be as polluting as one might assume Buddhists and Jains would. Brahmins leave the temple during these festivals, which they consider extremely backwards and offensive, and the temple then becomes the property Adivasis. I think Bharani has a lot more to do with the theological history of the Adivasi's then it does with that of the Brahmins or ancient Buddhist Sanghas (just as Kotankulangara has a lot more to do with Kotis in the pastoral communities than it does with casted Hindus.) <BR/><BR/>I dont know how one can scientifically prove the relationship between Bharani and the religous strife that ended Buddhist and Jain influence in Kerala. While it it is certain that such strife did exist, and that it manifested violently, there is little in Bharani to reflect back on that conflict. <BR/><BR/>At the same time, there is much in Bharani to point out influences from Mother-Goddess traditions known to the ancient Mediterranian. For instance, the rites of Ishtar, Cybele, Ashera, Anath etc... all included elements similar to Shakthi worship in South India. These rites involved ceremonial teasing of the goddess as well as voluntary self-mortification and blood sacrifice. <BR/>Furthermore, comparing the dieties from both locations provides some remarkable parallels. All these goddesses ride on Lions, Ishtar and Anath wear the cresent moon in their hair, Anath wears wreaths of skulls while swaggering on the battlefield, all of these goddess were served by actively gay male transvestitie priests, priestesses and a class of sacred prostitutes. One could say almost the exact same things about the cults of Mariyamman or Angalaparameshwari.<BR/><BR/>As far as the feasts at Kodungalur are concerned, I think there is much more weight in the theories offered by Gentes relating to Dravidian fertility concepts, and how these were shaped by other theologies entering Kerala from the ancient Near East. Obyeskere's writing elaborates on this aspect of South Indian goddess-worship as well. <BR/><BR/>Dravidian theological constructs are flexible enough to allow for the integration of a plurality of religious frameworks. Kodungalur, and Kerala's Bhagavathy traditions in general, certainly perserve and showcase all the diverse elements of that plurality-- whether tribal, Brahmanist, Buddhist, Jain, MidEastern or what have you. The character of Kerala's goddess traditions speak more to an amalgamation of diverse religious strains, at least moreso than to a disection of them. <BR/><BR/>This does not counter the idea that Buddhism and Jainism were once quite prominent in Kerala-- clearly they were, and clearly it took a degree of hostile and bigoted persecution to drive them out, but I dont think that Bharani reflects that history.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-9751555562487452012008-10-21T01:23:00.000+05:302008-10-21T01:23:00.000+05:30very interesting to read about the temples of Kera...very interesting to read about the temples of Kerala and how they are connected to Buddhism and Jainism.<BR/><BR/>charulathaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com