MADURAI: A two-judge bench of the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) shall soon pore over law books to examine how or if a perceived sacrilege of a pious ‘U’ shaped mark smeared on the foreheads of the devout Vaishnavites with white clay (Naamam) could be prevented.
The Vaishnavite Brahmins in Tamil Nadu are known to sport a ‘U’ shaped mark on their forehead as part of their religious ritual. In fact the ‘U’ mark distinguishes the Vaishnavite Brahmin from those belonging to the Shaivite sect who sport three horizontal stripes using holy ash on their forehead.
However, in local parlance the ‘U’ mark and the word Naamam are variedly used to denote that someone has been taken for a ride.
It is common in Tamil Nadu for people who have been cheated to say that the fraudster had applied Naamam on their foreheads. Likewise, while staging protests too some people apply Naamam on their foreheads to convey that they have been cheated.
Objecting to such mocking of the religious symbol, a Tirunelveli based man, Periyanambi Sri Narasima Gopalan, a follower of Vaishnavism, has filed a petition in the Madras High Court. He has submitted that according to scriptures
Hindus who follow Vaishnavism (generally called Iyengars) have to apply the sacred ‘U’ symbol on their foreheads.
The pious Vaishnavites believe that this would purify the body as they also chant the names of 12 avatars of Lord Vishnu while applying the Naamam.
Therefore, the petitioner argued that this religious symbol cannot be used as a caricature or a symbol of cheating.
Even the media uses the word Naamam in a negative context, Periyanambi Sri Narasima Gopalan added.
Contending that the holy symbol is being deliberately degraded thereby wounding the feelings of religious community, the petitioner sought a direction to authorities concerned to ensure that the symbol is not denigrated in any manner.
When the case came up before Justice Venugopal, he directed the Registry to post the petition before a two-judge division bench for hearing.
