It was Tamil Nadu’s response to cow vigilantism and mob-lynching which has become frequent affairs in North India. In Christmas day, Ponganallur in south west Tamil Nadu played host to this century’s first ever Shodasa Mahalakshmi Maha Yagam which saw hundreds of priests offering special Pooja and Yagya for the Global peace, safety, security and prosperity of the country and its people, especially the farming community.
The three day event which commenced on December 23 culminated on December 25 and nearly five lakh people took part in the Yagam, according to Thirunavukarassu Elangovan, president, Hindu Munnani, the lead oraganisers of the event. “Shodasa Mahalakshmi Maha Yagam is to propitiate the 16 Maha Lakshmis while we are familiar with only Ashtalaksmi Poojas. Shodasa means 16,” Elangovan told The Pioneer.
He said Shodasa Mahalakshmi Maha Yagams were held during the days of the Chola, Pandya Kings in lines with Aswamedha Yaga. “It was mandatory for the rulers to perform Mahalakshmi Yagam before assuming the charges of administering the country. The yagam is a declaration to the people and the country that his life was dedicated to the prosperity and well being of the people,” said Elangovan.
The three day event began with Aswa Pooja , worshipping 108 horses to placate the God of Power. “The last day saw the priests and the participants offering poojas to 1,600 cows, all native breeds, mobilised from various places in Tamil Nadu,” said G K Nagaraj, organiser of the event who is a farmer leader from Kongunadu, south west Tamil Nadu.
The enthusiasm of the people could be understood from the way coupons for the event was sold out. “More than 1,22,000 tickets costing Rs 180/- per ticket was sold out a week before the Yaga. We charged entry fees to ensure that people attend the event,” said Elangovan.
Sreepriya Iyer travelled all the way from Chennai to take part in the three day event. “Normally, we perform Ashtalakshmi Poojas in our houses. But Maha Lakshi is worshipped in 16 forms during the Shodasa Maha Yagam and it is a rare event,” said Iyer, a serious student of Indian culture.
Rama Gopalan, octogenarian founder of Hindu Munnani who has been confined to a wheel chair led the three day Yagam. “Yaso Lakshmi, Vidya Lakshmi, Dhairya Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Veera Lakshmi, Samrajya Lakshmi, Moksha Lakshmi, Sowmya Lakshmi, Sidha Lakshmi, Sri Lakshmi, Sowbhagya Lakshmi, Prasanna Lakshmi, Jaya Lakshmi are the forms of Lakshmi we worshipped during the three days,” said Rama Gopalan.
Nagaraj said the Shodasa Mahalakhmi Yagam, though not held frequently, was imbibed in the Kongunadu culture. “We wish people with the words Pathinaru Sevangal Pettu Peruvaku Vazhka (Tamil for “Live prosperously with all the 16 assets which are the manifestation of 16 Maha Lakshmis)”, said Nagaraj.
The event culminated peacefully but there was an attempt to derail it as members of the Periyar Dravida Kazhagam, followers of late E V Ramasamy Naicker had approached Madras High Court with a plea to ban the event because of their fear that the cows may cause the spreading of anthrax in and around Tirupur. The court is hearing the case after the Christmas vacation but by that time the cows would have reached their shelters after the Pooja.