The Karnataka government on Thursday ordered an inquiry into reports that eight goats were sacrificed at a soma yaga conducted by a group of Sankethi Brahmins near Shimoga in Karnataka.
"The government has sought a detailed report from the Shimoga Deputy Commissioner. Animal sacrifices are banned by law. We will decide what to do next, once we get a detailed report. We can't act on media reports," state Law Minister TB Jayachandra told News18.
Shimoga district Deputy Commissioner (DC) VP Ikkeri said he has already asked zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to get a detailed report from the spot.
Under the Karnataka Prevention of Animal Sacrifices Act (1959) sacrifice of animals and birds in temples or other places of worship is banned.
The ancient ritual reportedly took place at Srikantapura village near Shimoga city, in which participants sacrificed goats and partook of soma rasa ( ritual brew).
The ceremony came under severe criticism, from both animal rights activists and members of other Brahmin communities in the state. Brahmins in the southern parts of the country are vegetarians.
Sanskrit scholar Dr Sanath Kumar, who had presided over the yaga , first defended the ritual saying it was his religious right, and then in the space of 24 hours, changed his statement twice to say no sacrifice took place.
Commenting on the pictures that went viral, Sanath Kumar said the goats were only tied to a pole near the fireplace as per religious tradition and that they were not sacrificed.
Local villagers, however, contradicted him saying the animal sacrifices were held during the five-day yaga. Local media reports even claimed the yaga was held on behalf of a top political leader in Tamil Nadu.
Comments
0 comment