March 2, 2016 10:49 PM, Jamia_Millia_Alumni_directory <jamia.millia.alumni@gmail.com
26-02-2016
MHISHASUR IN THE ‘TEMPLE’ OF DEMOCRACY
Neshat Quaiser
Mahshasur figured in the Temple of Democracy, the Indian Parliament. No, he
was not installed in the Temple of Democracy. Multiplicity, diversity,
tolerance are some of the constitutive elements of democracy. But Mahishasur,
worshiped by many, cannot find a place in the temple of democracy according to ruling
party. His annihilation was not mourned but eulogized in a sense. No wonder a
brahmin priest on a private t.v channel declared that Mahisasur was a rakshasa and that is why he was killed by mother Durga.
Whether, the
Parliament should be characterized as the ‘Temple’ of Democracy, or a
university should be called as ‘Temple’ of Learning, is a serious ideological
and theoretical question, that I am not going into at the moment, but it
deserves serious academic consideration.
In March 2015 I wrote to a student: Mahishasur–Durga story has an
alternative interpretation by some people – you would perhaps like to keep this
also in mind – ultimately it is you who will decide – but whatever you stand
for should be after due critical examination of history. And of course
everybody has the right to uphold any idea that one professes.
Any way I am not competent enough to say anything authoritatively on the issue at the moment, but I thought I should bring to your notice certain facts, in case you are not aware of.
Any way I am not competent enough to say anything authoritatively on the issue at the moment, but I thought I should bring to your notice certain facts, in case you are not aware of.
The reinterpretation Mahishasur–Durga story goes as follows:
Mahishasur - mahish+asur - mahish means buffalo and Asur means demon, so
mahishasur means Buffalo Demon. In other words, demons are not God i.e Sur. In
Hindu pantheon God stands for Brahmins, the high castes, that is touchable
castes who in this context do not involve themselves in manual labour. While,
Asur are those who are manual labourers. Mahisasur may have been the one who
reared baffalows – so, not Aryans.
It is argued by these re-interpreters that the Durga killing Mahisasur in
fact is the celebration of the genocide of native people by the Aryan invaders.
Dalit research scholars have strongly argued that Mahisasur was actually a
Dalit king killed by Aryans and they strongly object his being portrayed as
demon Mahishasur.
Durga story, thus
has an alternative interpretation by some people – you would perhaps like to
keep this also in mind – ultimately it is you who will decide – but whatever
you stand for should be after due critical examination of history. More importantly, methodology of not
disregarding multiple understanding and interpretations of a phenomenon is must
for any student of sociology.
There are tribal groups in Jharkand area who celebrate Mahishasur. A FB
friend wrote that in certain parts of South India we adore Mahishasura. In fact
city of Mysore is named after him (shortened from Mahishasurana ooru). If
worshipping Mahishasura is seditious, the whole city of Mysore is
anti-national. Moreover, the temple of the city’s guardian deity—Chamundi—has a
giant statue of Mahishasura.
In certain parts of Bundelkhand, Mahishasur is even now revered.
In certain parts of Bundelkhand, Mahishasur is even now revered.
Department of Sociology
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