Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president and former Minister D.Okay. Shivakumar (2nd from left) at Srikalahastheeswara swamy temple in Srikalahasti city of Tirupati district in Andhra Pradesh on April 2, 2023.
Bengaluru
Religion and politics go hand-in-hand not simply to divide votes and but additionally in the case of in search of divine intervention to win election contests. With a little over a month to go for the Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled on May 10, and with a shut contest on the playing cards, politicians from Karnataka have been conducting varied non secular rituals.
Days earlier than the elections and mannequin code of conduct have been introduced within the State, politicians held varied homa and havan starting from ‘Shatha Chandika Yaga’ to ‘Rahu Ketu Puja’ to beat back misfortune and convey good luck.
While heavyweights of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) have been first off the blocks, outstanding BJP leaders have not featured in any main non secular ritual but.
In March, former Chief Minister and JD(S) chief H.D. Kumaraswamy carried out rituals involving 100 monks for 9 days the place the monks chanted 700 ‘Sapthashathi’ mantras and provided homa to please the goddess Durga. Sources from JD(S) confirmed that Mr Kumaraswamy had carried out ‘Shatha Chandika Yaga’ and ‘Mrutyunjaya Homa’ for the well-being of his household, together with former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.
“The ritual was organised by Mr Kumaraswamy at his farmhouse in Ramanagara district in March. Though it was for the well-being of the family, praying for good luck ahead of elections was also the motive. The other reason to conduct rituals is for the good health of Mr Deve Gowda,” a senior JD(S) chief instructed The Hindu.
All these rituals have been carried out by monks from Andhra Pradesh. Sources revealed that the recommendation to carry out such rituals was given to Mr Kumaraswamy by Telangana Chief Minister Okay Chandrashekar Rao. Mr Rao had been conducting comparable rituals prior to now. Just a few months in the past, Mr Kumaraswamy had met Mr Rao who had supported the JD(S) in Karnataka elections.
On April 2, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D.Okay. Shivakumar provided prayers at Sri Kalahastheeswara swamy temple, close to Tirupati, alongside together with his spouse. The couple additionally provided prayers on the shrine of Gnana Prasunambika as nicely.
Mr. Shivakumar is slated to take part in ‘Rahu Ketu Puja’, a well-known ritual at Sri Kalahastheeswara swamy temple, which is believed to beat back misfortune and convey good luck, on May 10. In March, he had participated in a particular pooja on the Adichunchanagiri mutt in Mandya district, which is probably the most revered mutt within the Vokkaliga neighborhood to which he belongs.
So far, no BJP chief is understood to have carried out any main non secular ritual. Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who is understood for conducting such rituals, has not carried out any thus far, and has not visited well-known temples both.
