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From: alt.fan.jai-maharaj@googlegroups.com

Vaishnava Kshetra With No Diwali: Karnataka's Melukote
Shows Historians May Forget Hindu Massacres But People
Won't

By Swarajya Staff
Swarajyamag, swarajyamag.com
Monday, October 28, 2019

Yoga Narasimha Temple in Melukote (Pic via Twitter)

Melukote in Mandya district of Karnataka is one of the most
sacred places in the state. Located on the banks of the
river Akhandakaveri, it is a Vaishnavite Kshetram - also
known as Thirunarayanapuram.

Built on rocky hills of Yadugiri (also known as Yaadavagiri
and Yadushailadeepa), overlooking the Kaveri valley, the
place was a home for Srivaishnava saint Ramanujacharya for
over 12 years.

With its majestic Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, Academy of
Sanskrit Research and many other important shrines, along
with the reputation as a centre of ancient learning, it is
hard to believe that Melukote doesn't celebrate Deepawali.

The Tragedy Which Befell Mandyam Iyengars

As the region became a prominent centre of Srivaishnavism
as well as learning, large numbers of Iyengar Brahmins from
Tamil Nadu (the birthplace of Ramanujacharya) migrated and
settled in the region, forming the Mandyam Iyengar
community.

On Naraka Chaturdashi In 1790, Tipu Sultan massacred more
than 700 Mandyam Iyengar families in Melukote, including
women and children. They had congregated at Narashimhaswamy
temple on the banks of Cauvery at Srirangaptna town to
celebrate Diwali when Sultan's army massacred them.

This mass butchering by Tipu's army forced Mandyam Iyengars
to move to Nagamangala and later settle down in Melukute
from Baburayana Koppalu, Mandya Koppal and Mandya.

The town, to this day, doesn't celebrate Diwali, and mourns
the death and destruction that Tipu Sultan wrecked over the
holy town over two centuries ago.

Melukote provides a sombre example of people's history -
while the historians and intellectuals may forget- the
people of the town maintain the remembrance of the horror
of Naraka Chaturdashi in 1790.

In perspective

The Melukote massacre is one of the examples Tipu's
detractors have given of his bigotry against non-Muslims,
pointing to his brutal subjugation through, not just
violence but also conversions by forced circumcision,
temple breaking, rape and plunder.

Continues at:

https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/vaishnava-kshetra-with-no-diwali-karnatakas-melukote-shows-historians-may-forget-hindu-massacres-but-people-wont

Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.jai-maharaj

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* Origin: www.darkrealms.ca (1:229/2)