Even though temple authorities at Dharmasthala refrained from commenting, the temple town was buzzing with talk of how chief minister BS Yeddyurappa is just another example of a man punished by Lord Manjunatheshwara for backtracking on a solemn pledge.
Devotees noted that exactly a month ago, the chief minister had arrived at the temple after making claims that he would take a pledge before Lord Manjnatheshwara. Instead of keeping his word, Yeddyurappa offered puja and left.
On Wednesday, as the report of the Lok Ayukta submitted to the state government indicted Yeddyurappa for involvement in the largest embezzlement scandal the state has seen thus far, many were convinced that reneging on the promise of taking a pledge in the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Manjunatheshwara temple was what did him in.
Even though the brotherhood of rationalists pooh-poohs the claims of devotees, there are ardent followers of Manjunatheshwara who swear that the power of their lord has been made manifest once again.
On June 27, a day of heavy rain, the chief minister had arrived at the temple and conducted a puja, without taking the truth test as he said he would.
Exactly a month later, the Lok Ayukta report has indicted the chief minister. “The chief minister wanted to swear before the Lord that he had not sent an emissary to strike a deal with HD Kumaraswamy. He said he would take the test of truth before Lord Manjunatha, but backtracked from his pledge and offered puja instead. I have seen many such cases before. Those who do not do as they have promised before Lord Manjunatha face difficult times,” says Balakrishna Udupa, who has been a devotee at the Dharmasthala temple for a long time.
Chandrakanth Shetty, a businessman in Dharmasthala, says, “These politicians do all sorts of gimmickry in public life, then come here and make false promises and pledges before God. The shrine is renowned for protecting those who are faithful and honest, and punishing those who try to feign innocence even when they were guilty. The case of chief minister BS Yeddyurappa is just one more instance of the power of Lord Manjunatha.”
