RSS triggers row by questioning legend behind Onam

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 11 (PTI) As Keralites gear up tocelebrate Onam, RSS has triggered a controversy by questioningthe legend behind the festival, arguing that it marks thecelebration of birth of ‘Vamana’ (incarnation of Lord Vishnu)and not the homecoming of demon king Mahabali. An article published in the Onam special edition of RSSmouthpiece ‘Kesari’ claimed there was no reference in anymythological scriptures which supports the popular and widelycirculated legend that ‘VamanaÂ’ had sent Mahabali to thenetherworld through deceit and the king visits the landannually to meet his subjects. Countering the argument, senior CPI(M) leader and stateHealth Minister K K Shylaja said Onam was celebrated by allirrespective of caste, creed and religion and the attempt ofthe RSS was to bring back the bygone "upper class hegemony". It was also a part of RSS’s agenda to "hijack thefestival", the minister alleged. According to the popular belief in the state, MahabaliÂ’shomecoming in the Malayalam month of Chingam to see hissubjects is celebrated as ‘Thiru Onam’ annually, which fallson September 14 this year. However, the article written by K UnnikrishnanNamboothiri in the RSS magazine argued that Onam wasoriginally celebrated as the birthday of Vamana and not afestivity to mark the homecoming of the demon king. "There is no such reference or explanation anywhere inmythology or epics to support the story that Mahabali waspushed to the netherworld by Vamana and he visits the landevery year to meet his subjects. Then, how did such a falsestory become prevalent in Kerala?" the article stated. The write-up claimed that Lord Vishnu had actually"blessed" the demon king and not "punished" him by pushinginto ‘pathala’ (netherworld). "There is no indication in spiritual texts like’Bhagavatham’ or ‘Narayaneeyam’ or such other authentic booksthat Bali was pushed to the netherworld. Instead, such textssay that the noble king had emerged victorious in the trial byVamana and he was blessed by the God," it said. The writer also criticised the general picturisation ofMahabali as a man with moustache, potbelly and wearing an’olakkuda’ (traditional palm leaf umbrella). "It is an attempt by some vested interest to distort themythical stories and paint in poor light the characters ofHindu Puranas," the writer said, adding that such attempts todestroy Hinduism should be checked. According to mythology, Onam is connected with ‘AsuraÂ’(demon) king Mahabali, under whose reign everyone lived inhappiness and equality. Envious by his popularity, ‘DevasÂ’ (Gods) sought the helpof Lord Vishnu to get him banished into the netherworld. But before going down, Mahabali secured a boon from LordVishnu to visit his subjects every year on the ‘Thiru Onam’day. The demon king’s annual visit is celebrated by Keralites,who lay by their front yards with floral carpets, wear newclothes and prepare a sumptuous feast. (MORE) PTI LGK JRK VSSRY