In search of false gods
K. SANTHOSH
|
Kerala, the most literate State, is also the place where disciples queue up to buy peace, salvation and more.
|
Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar
No biG deal: A Kerala Yukti Vadi Sanghom volunteer in a campaign against miracles and godmen.
Last summer, the police in Kerala, called “God’s Own Country”, had a tough job: chasing “false Gods”.
An Interpol look-out notice led cops to a self-styled godman, Swami Amritha Chaitanya alias Santhosh Madhavan. In his elaborately done, deluxe ashram in Kochi, he reportedly drank toasts to politicos, screen deities and fat cats. Investigators dug up information about his multi-crore real-estate business and mafia links. Cops alleged that he carried out tantrik pujas for jazzing up the careers of out-of-work cine glam girls after making them stand nude before him.
A raid on his ashram unearthed tiger skins, cannabis, illegally-stored sandalwood and a collection of porn CDs in which he himself was the star. The swami, a school dropout, had allegedly raped minor girls put up in a charity home under his ashram and videographed the acts. Nabbed on May 13, 2008, he faces trial after four of them complained.
The public outrage triggered by the case forced Kerala’s CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front Government to order a crackdown on false godmen, tantriks, faith healers, occultists, fortune tellers, seers, soothsayers, psychics, mantra-healers, mediums and babas.
Many predators of gullible minds went on the run when the Kerala police drew up a list of about 300 tricksters claiming loyalty to different faiths, their hangers-on and accomplices. Startling details of their involvement in illegal hawala transactions, benami land deals and sex trade came to light.
Thriving market
The cops closed in on a woman oracle on the outskirts of Thrissur notorious for a salacious pre-dawn rite in which she wore diaphanous costumes and took a shower before rum-soused devotees; a pastor who faced a non-bailable warrant for issuing fake cheques; a Palakkad-based swami with flowing hair and a spiritual quote for every occasion who amassed crores under the cover of a clutch of charitable institutions; a high-profile evangelist in Thiruvalla who received from abroad unaccounted money that ran into several thousand crores; and a swamini from Kollam wanted in a visa fraud case. Confronted, a swami even attempted to shoot himself with a pistol in the Aluva police station.
The probe uncovered a multi-crore spiritual supermarket rooted in greed, brutality, sexual perversion and utter depravity. Its black creepy tentacles inch towards all rungs of society. In an increasingly apathetic, violent and lawless world, wide-eyed people queue up to buy peace and salvation from low and high priests and priestesses at the altar of deception.
Allegations against two prominent spiritual leaders in Kerala caught the attention of the media recently. Aryadan Shoukath, a Congress leader, demanded an investigation into the religious activities of an influential Muslim family in Malappuram, the head of which was a leader of the Indian Union Muslim League. It ruffled Congress-IUML relations and president Sonia Gandhi reportedly sent an emissary to control the damage.
Writer and social commentator Sukumar Azhikode sought an inquiry into the assets and earnings of a “hugging saint” from Kollam, irking her disciples and the BJP. Angry devotees took protest rallies to his home and allegedly bombarded him with abusive calls.
“People often ask why fake godmen thrive in Kerala, a highly literate State. Linguistic and numerical literacy has little to do with mental maturity and emotional intelligence. People’s insecurity breeds charlatans, impostors and cheats who quote the scripture for their purpose. People rush to godmen when they face crises, material or existential. It could be a problem your friend or a family member can help you handle, but you trust the quizzical smile of a business-savvy monk more,” says K.S. Shaji, associate professor with the Department of Psychiatry in the Thrissur Government Medical College.
Quacks take advantage of fragile social relationships. “In the age of science, tantriks claim their arcane incantation can defeat your enemies or bring your estranged lover back to you. Obviously, devotees keep their brains outside the abode of these false Gods,” Dr. Shaji says.
Space for all
At the same time, sane voices do not go unheard in Kerala, indicating that it offers space for a polarity of ethics and enquiry. The Kerala Yukti Vadi Sanghom (Association of Rationalists), which has painstakingly spread the gospel of reason, is into its 92th year. It has 10,000 members across the State. The tenacity of the group, which has busted countless fraud godmen, can be traced to the spirit of reformation spearheaded by Narayana Guru, who taught Kerala the message of Vedanta, a philosophy of the ultimate nature of reality.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Magazine
