Mahisha Utsava passes off peacefully in Mysuru city

Mysuru: Mahisha Utsava organised by the Mahisha Dasara Celebration Committee at the historical Rangacharlu Memorial Hall was celebrated under heavy police cover on Friday.After much public outcry, police had given conditional permission to hold the celebration within the confines of the Town Hall. Organisers claimed they had sought permission till 2pm and completed the programme within that time.The platform was used by the organisers, speakers, and religious leaders to indirectly criticise Mysuru MP Pratap Simha but did not take his name. The committee later decided to hold Dhamma Deeksha on October 14 every year and to urge the state government to set up the Buddha Development Authority. On the occasion, hundreds of participants took Dhamma Deeksha. Urilinga Peddi Mutt seer Jnanaprakash Swami said the event was organised to not to hurt the religious feelings of anyone but to tell about Mahishasura who lived and ruled the region. He said this was the biggest gathering for the celebration and said a similar programme should be conducted in every district with more participants.Bodhidatta Bantheji of Nalanda Buddha Vihara, Chamarajanagar said,“We are here to tell the truth about Mahisha Raja, Mahisha Jataka or Mahisha Mandala. I’m pained because not many in Mysuru know about Mahisha Mandala (kingdom) but countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan, China, Laos, Malaysia, and Cambodia believe that Mahisha Mandala existed in the southern part of India. I speak based on evidence and records which prove the existence of Mahisa, who is a historical person.” The seer claimed there is evidence about Mahisa Jataka in the speech of Buddha in 581 BC.Talakadu Chikkarangegowda, a historian, claimed the first available document about Mahisha was in 962 AD or Common Era (CE) during the Ganga dynasty. Accordingly, Mahisha was not a trouble-monger but a protector of people. In the last 500 years, the history was covered up, he claimed.Retired professor JS Patil said those calling Mahisha despicable should study history in-depth to understand him. On the occasion, he called upon the gathering not to lose this excitement till the defeat of ideological opponents.Bhaskar Prasad, an activist, said a similar programme should be organised in every district and promised to hold the celebration in Bengaluru next year.Writer KS Bhagavan, in his presidential speech, quoted an incident of Buddha wherein his speech was being disturbed by an opponent but Buddha didn’t take it. “Likewise, we too should not take the criticisms,”, the professor said, indirectly attacking Simha. Attacking the Vaidika culture, the professor said Buddha created awareness through his teachings.The speakers claimed that the region was the land of buffaloes which is synonymous with Mahisha . Retired professors Nanjaraj Urs and Mahesh Chandra Guru were present. Earlier, some of the acivists took out a bike rally from Ashokpuram in the city and reached the venue despite the prohibitory orders.