KshethraBhumi Samrakshana Vedhi (KBSV) Bharat, a registered trust working to rebuild destroyed Hindu temples has started the #LightALamp initiative. Under the initiative, the organisation plans to restart worship and rebuild the destroyed temples of Kerala, especially in the Malappuram district. Malappuram is a Muslim majority district of Kerala where Hindu religious rights are trampled under the organised might of Jihadi extremists. The said district has a history.
As per historical records, Tipu Sultan during his invasion of Malabar region of Kerala destroyed more than 4000 Hindu temples. Many major ones like Thirunavaya temple, Thali Mahadeva temples were laid waste, which accompanied the forcible conversion to Islam and abduction of Hindu women as sex slaves. The subsequent Muslim riots in 1921 led to massive forced conversion of Hindus to Islam via threats and mass rape. Whatever Hindu temples were left in Malappuram district by Tipu Sultan were completely destroyed during the 1921 riots. If Tipu Sultan’s invasion destroyed the temples, the 1921 riots saw Muslims displacing the Hindus and taking over the land and properties of Hindu temples.
The situation remains so even after close to a century especially as far as the lands and Hindu temple properties are concerned. KBSV Bharat, which advocates an uncompromising stand on Hindu Dharma, has been advocating the reclaiming of all these lands and giving it back to the Deity to whom it actually belongs and to be used in the interest of the Hindu society. The organisation has also filed a Writ Petition in Kerala High Court [WPC 27910/2015] demanding return of the land back to the temples – about 25,000 acres which now lies encroached.
The present initiative to Light a Lamp in temple ruins is described as an attempt to rekindle the spiritual energy which exists at these locations where temples existed. Keezhalancherry Ratnakaran, Chairman of KBSV Bharat, says that “lighting a lamp is a powerful measure to restart worship and symbolizes the awakening of the Gods. We wanted this Sabrimala season starting on 16 Nov 2016 to mark a new era when Hindus will reclaim everything that belongs to them.”
As part of the #LightALamp initiative, on 16.11.2016, KBSV Bharat volunteers along with people of the locality visited forests in Chungathara, site of an ancient temple in Malappuram district which was destroyed by Tipu Sultan. The area was cleaned up, special poojas were done and lamps were lit at the location.
Kunhan, a KBSV Bharat Trustee and Cordinator for Malappuram district, said that he knows more than hundred such temple ruins in Malappuram district and KBSV Bharat would restart worship at all these sites and also reclaim the properties of the temple. Krishna Prasad, another KBSV Bharat trustee, said that its high time Hindu society shed its timidity and embarked on the journey to reclaim our heritage and properties.
The #LightALamp initiative is no doubt a wonderful attempt in re-invogarating the Hindu society and also to Reclaim Temples.
PS: Kshethra Bhumi Samrakshana Vedhi Charitable Trust is registered in Kerala with registration no, 250/IV/2016. Swamy Bharati Maharaj is the Managing Trustee. For more details of the organisation and its activities check their website www.kbsv.in and also their twitter page www.twitter.com/KBSVBharat
Source: Hindu Post
