KOCHI: The Agrawal Community in Kerala celebrated the 5141th birth anniversary of Maharaja Agrasen, considered the community founder and icon of non-violence. According to members, though he was a monarch, he ruled his state, presently known as Agroha, Hissar in Haryana, in democratic norms. He was the first king who established democratic principles by dividing his state into 18 divisions. On his 5100th birthday, the government of India issued 80 lakh postal stamps of 25Ps each on April 20 in 1976.
Maharaj Agrasen, performed many yagnas (sacrifice) for the prosperity of his people. In those days, performing a yagna was a symbol of prosperity. However, he was against the use of animals for sacrifice. This was inspired by an inside when during one such yagna, Maharaj Agrasen noticed that a horse that had been brought to be sacrificed was trying hard to get away from the sacrificial altar.
Seeing this Maharaj Agrasen was filled with pity and then thought as to what prosperity can be achieved by sacrificing mute animals. The idea of Ahimsa grabbed Maharaj Agrasen’s mind. Based on this, Maharaj Agrasen proclaimed that there should be no violence and killing of animals in his kingdom.
The celebrations
The Agrawal Yuva Mandal community celebrates the birth anniversary every year at the Siva Temple in Udayanagar and Ram Mandir in Mattanchery alternatively. “We conduct it in either temples each year. It is a pact that we have had with each other. After we all meet up on that auspicious day, we set out on a procession for two kilometers. We all wear traditional attire and dress up the children as Ram Darbar and Agrasen Darbar. Then we return to the temple where we assess the activities of the past year. Then we end the event with Aarthi and mahaprasadam.