THE WEEK archives: When Vishnu Narayanan Namboodiri got caught in 'priestly' duel

Namboodiri, 81, passed away at his house in Thiruvananthapuram, on Feb 25, 2020

Vishnu-Narayanan-Namboodiri (File) Vishnu Narayanan Namboodiri | via Onmanorama
The article was originally published in the issue dated July 27, 1997

It was not the Kathakali that the lord loves so much. The high drama 'enacted' on July 10 at the Sree Vallabha temple at Tiruvalla, near Kottayam, had all the makings of a soap opera. Only, it was happening in the precincts of a 59 AD Vishnu temple as tradition clashed with modern-day reality.

Sree Vallabha is said be a lover of Kathakali, which is performed almost daily at the temple as offering by the devotees, to please the lord. They believe He sits among the audience and enjoys it. But what He saw that July morning must have brought him little joy: one of the high priests of the temple, Vishnu Narayanan Namboodiri, was banned by the authorities from entering the sanctum sanctorum. His sin: he had crossed the seven seas.

The issue assumed seriousness after it was splashed in the media. The fact that Namboodiri is a well-known cultural figure added to the controversy. Namboodiri is a Kendra Sahitya Akademi award-winning poet and retired as head of the department of English in Kerala University three years ago. The Hindu community stands divided on the issue with the rationalists calling for the lifting of the ban and the orthodox backing the action of the temple's tantri (who is seen as being in the position of the father of the deity), Akkeraman Kalidasan Bhattathiri.

It all started in March when two London-based organisations, Study Society and Scientific and Medical Network, invited him to lecture at the 'Millennium Conference on Integration of Science and Consciousness at York.

Namboodiri, who was the only invitee from India accepted the invitation. According to him, he informed the tantri and the Devaswom authorities about the invitation and his decision to go overseas. "The tantri encouraged me saying that it is good that I got the chance," Namboodiri told THE WEEK. "He told me that it would go a long way in spreading the temple's fame."

But Kalidasan Bhattathiri, 36, has another story to tell. "Namboodiri talked about the seminar over phone two or three days before he was to leave," he said. "He had made all arrangements by then. Though it is true that I did not discourage him from going, I had hinted about the consequences once he returned."

A claim hotly contested by Namboodiri. “It is like branding me a liar. Had he told me anything about the problems I would have to face, I would not have gone," he said. Namboodiri even has a letter, written by the organisers thanking the tantri for permitting him to attend the conference.

The Millennium Conference, from June 30 to July 3, was organised to discuss the changing outlook towards science and consciousness. It was attended by celebrities including Dana Zohar, Mourie Ann, Max Velmass, lan Marshall, Vassilis Bassios, Emilios Bouratinous and Rupert Sheldreake. Namboodiri presented his paper on 'Consciousness in the Vedic lore' on July 1, which was received well.

Namboodiri returned to India on July 9 and went to the temple the next morning to resume duty, unaware of what lay in store. Even as he approached the Sopanam of the temple, a junior priest informed him that he should first talk to the tantri before entering the sanctum sanctorum. Namboodiri rang up Bhattathiri only to be told that he would have to go through a purification ceremony since he had gone abroad. The tantri, who was to conduct the ceremony, also asked him to chant the Gayatri mantra 1,008 times and prostrate before Sree Vallabha.

"I suggested to him to act fast before more people came to know of it," said Namboodiri. "But he told me that he was busy and could do it only the next day."

Bhattathiri said he also wanted to avoid negative publicity for the temple. "The people were angry at the high priest's foreign sojourn," he claimed. "Considering his position in the society, I was prepared for a secret ceremony the next day. But before that could take place, he went to the press with his controversial statements."

But Namboodiri said he waited till afternoon on June 10 before talking to the press. Many question Namboodiri's wisdom of rushing to the press with the issue. They argue that had he shown restraint, the issue would have blown over. Namboodiri's statements to the press only hardened the stand of the tantri and the temple advisory committee.

"I talked to the Devaswom Board president before I met the reporters," he said. "If I have to do something, I do it openly. I have nothing to hide. No sacred text has banned voyage across seas." News of the controversy even reached his hosts in York. He said they called him to inquire about the incident after reading about it in newspapers. Once the matter became public, the two sides indulged in a statement war in the press. The devotees too joined in. Many openly expressed their dissatisfaction. "What we need is not a poet but a priest," said a temple advisory committee member. "The high priest is not above God."

Matters came to such a pass that devotees were prepared to take control of the situation; some of the faithful were ready to prevent the high priest from entering the temple were he to receive permission from the tantri.

The high priests—there are two high priests, one from five select Malayali Brahmin families and the other from eight select Tulu Brahmin families—are held in high esteem, and the post is coveted. Namboodiri, a Malayali Brahmin, donned priestly robes after retirement, to fulfil his mother's vow.

His appointment as high priest was also shrouded in controversy. Another Brahmin family moved court to stay his appointment. But Kalidasan Bhattathiri anointed him high priest on a Sunday, to circumvent the stay order.

Today the two are ranged against each other. "Namboodiri is trying to malign my name in public," alleged the tantri. "Now it has reached a stage where there is little chance left for reconciliation." But Namboodiri refutes the allegation. "What am I going to gain by maligning his name?" he asked.

The tantri's ban order, meanwhile, has evoked mixed reaction among the Brahmin community. It also sparked a debate on whether the age-old customs should be followed as said in the texts or not. The intellectuals naturally were with Namboodiri while the orthodox Hindus supported the tantri.

But at least one orthodox Hindu backed Namboodiri. He was Rajivaré Kantararé, who will be the high priest of Sabarimala for a year from August 17. "Namboodiri did a right thing in going abroad and teaching Veda to the foreigners," he said "Namboodiri should be honoured for undertaking the task."

The Travancore Devaswom Board's role in this drama has come in for severe criticism from the temple advisory committee and the tantri. Following Namboodiri's complaint, the Board asked the temple manager to readmit the high priest. But he did not comply. In his report to the Board, the manager said that one of its members, M.V.G. Namboodiri, had asked him orally to abide by the tantri's decision. M.V.G Namboodiri, however, denied this. Incidentally, he is also a member of one of the five select families.

However, a special meeting of the Board convened in Thiruvananthapuram saw MVG and the president taking different stands. The Board, on July 16, asked the manager to reinstall Vishnu Narayanan Namboodiri at any cost. But the scholar reportedly told him that he would return only if the ban order was revoked by the tantri, and the people wanted him to.

Meanwhile, efforts are on by neutral Hindu leaders to solve the knotty issue. Both sides have expressed their willingness for a dialogue and have decided that there will be no more public statements accusing each other. According to the tantri, the controversy is serving only to desecrate Hindu faith and the glorious heritage of the temple.

Namboodiri echoed similar sentiments. "I don't want to enter the temple using force," he told THE WEEK. "My three-year term ends on August 15. This controversy was thrust upon me." He was willing to initiate a discussion and come to an amicable settlement. "This squabble will only help to paint Hindus in a bad light," he said.

If such good sense prevails, it won't be long before the temple is once again filled with the sights and sounds of Kathakali.

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