By K. Anaga – 

Once again the dead Bhikkus have become the talk of the town and a ‘burning’ issue too. 

The first one was that of the Ven. Meegahajandura Gunaratna whose dead body was taken in circles and finally ‘burnt’ at the Jaffna esplanade with the blessings of the Magistrate, who heard the case against the burning of the body at the Jaffna esplanade. (Please refer my article ‘Funerals’ which appeared in the Colombo Telegraph of 2/5/18 in reply to Mr Jehan Perera’s writing in the LMD magazine of March 2018.)

Now, the ‘cancer’ of burning the dead body of another Bhikku has spread to Mullaitivu, that too in the premises of the Pillaiyar Temple (Ganadeyo Temple)Who is revered by Buddhists too to obtain personal favours, as lord Buddha apparently does not believe in granting favours to his devotes – rightly so. In Jaffna the magistrate condoned the actions of the army who seem to have their way and the Magistrate appear to have succumbed to it.

It appears that the Srilankan Buddhists have passed a ‘No- confidence’ motion on Lord Buddha as far as their demand for favours are concerned. 

But, in Mullaitivu, the Magistrate ruled against the action by led by Galagoda Atte Gnassara Thera, who had been let loose by our yahapalanaya president to commit more sins under his protection. The Magistrate ordered the ‘Cancerous Body’ be burnt outside the boundaries of the Pillaiyar temple. Nevertheless, the jurisdiction of the court was deliberately violated by the Armed Forces, Police Service, Lord Buddha’s Representatives- the Hamudurus, and the people who were encouraged by the Trio to desecrate the ‘Gods Little Acre’ by burning the ‘Cancerous Body’ in the temple premises.

I have deliberately used the word ‘burning’ instead the word ‘cremation’ purely because the latter is too good a word to be used on those who believe in the spread of ‘cancerous impunity’ which cannot be controlled even by chemotherapy.  It may only be treated by amputation of the affected part –the head and the brain within, if they have one. 

‘Cancer’ of burning has spread from Jaffna to Mullaitheevu and from Mullaitheevu it may spread to Kanniya in the Trincomalee District, where hot wells are situated with a Pillayar Temple within the premises. 

The people, who refresh themselves after a warm water bath of varying temperatures, worship the Pillaiyar and leave the place with great psychological satisfaction. Even, the Sinhala Buddhists bathers’ worship the said Pillayar after their bath, without any apparent inclination to capture the premises and plant the statue of Lord Buddha.  However, in the recent past Hamudrus want to demolish the Pillayar temple and plant lord Buddha’s statue, convert it into an exclusive Buddhist place of worship and claim ownership to the premises despite the fact a lady has documentary evidence to prove its ownership. 

It is rather unfortunate that ‘Pillaiyar’ and Lord Buddha are dragged into legal battles to ascertain the ownership of their ‘residence’.  

If this type of attitude of the Hamudurus are left unchecked, it could lead to disastrous consequences. Already Kathirkamam’s lord Murga has been Sinhalalised to an extent that the Tamil Hindus are unable to communicate with Lord Murga in Tamil and get their favours granted.   After visiting Kathirkamam with lots of hope and ending up with nothing, is a pity indeed. 

It is similar to Tamil speaking people visiting some of the government departments to get their needs attended to and return with empty hands, due to language difficulties.

The surrender of the Hindu Sampanthar and the Anglican Sumanthiran to the Buddhist Ranil has resulted in irreparable damage to the Tamils.

I believe in the democratic right of any one to practice his/her religion without fear or hindrance. However, I am opinion that a religion is not necessary for man to exist but man is necessary for religion to exist, despite the resulting chaos.

More crimes have been committed in the name of religion rather than without it.