Superstition that failed Yeddyurappa

Heeding the advice of a Kerala astrologer, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, an ardent believer in superstitions that he was, ordered the change of “vaastu” of the ancient Someshwara temple at Ulsoor, in a bid to save his seat. But that failed to work.

The BJP strongman is no more in power. And gone with him is the Rs 200 lakh he allocated for the renovation of the 1,000-year-old temple (Rs 100 lakh from the fund has been deposited with the Public Works Department.)

Yeddyurappa’s renovation order entailed, as Deccan Herald had reported last year, revamping parts of the temple complex, including relocating the “navagraha” idols, each representing the nine planets, revival of the “kalyani” (sacred pond), and removing damaged idols after performing appropriate rituals.

All this was done at the behest of Ravi Namboodri, a priest from Kerala, and after five astrologers –– Keshav Bhatt Mithoor, Padmanabhasharma, Krishnaprasad Rangabhatt, Madhusoodan Sharma and Aachar Gajanana Bhatt –– “inspected” and submitted a detailed ‘‘report’’ on the problems in the temple.

The problems were identified through “ashtamangala prashnapatti” and the solutions through the combined experience of the astrologers. “Ashtamangala prashnapatti” means placing eight “mangaladravyas” and performance of “puja” to help determine the problems.

Various “homas” and rituals including “chandika”, “kushmanda”, “pavamana”, “aghora”, “bhagavatha parihara” and “pravachana”, and “shubha vastu” puja were performed.

Also, to purify the temple precincts of the impurities caused by the entry of dogs, snakes, kites and people relieving themselves in or around it, one astrologer had suggested performing a “karma pratikar homa”.

Mithoor, one of the astrologers who inspected the temple, had said: “The changes will help the entire State and its ‘rulers’ in gaining stability.”

But a cautious Mithoor had, however, wondered whether his comments would have any adverse impact on him, an indication that it was a sacrilege to even mention the corrective rituals.

Political angle denied

But temple authorities had denied any political angle to it.

Cut to 2011: The proceedings of the government, dated February 5, 2011, a copy of which is in the possession of Deccan Herald, reveals that a total of Rs 2,912.60 lakh, including the Rs 200 lakh for the Someshwara Temple, was allotted by the government to various mutts, religious institutions and temples.

The number of institutions that benefited from the move have been put at 135 with the Someshwara Temple in Bangalore and the Renuka Yellamma Temple at Savadatti in Belgaum district, bagging the highest money for a single temple –– probably due to Yeddyurappa’s superstition-based priorities.

However, neither the work at the temple is complete, nor has he been able to retain his chief ministership.

Among other temples and institutions that will receive money/funds, temples in Virajpet taluk together will receive Rs 279 lakh; temples in Nelamangala taluk will get Rs 200 lakh.