After much research and debate, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's close aides seem to have zeroed in on the karma responsible for his troubles of late.
After much research and debate, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's close aides seem to have zeroed in on the karma responsible for his troubles of late.
It is the injury caused to three pigs by his car some days ago and not, as the casual observer might be inclined to think, the hurt caused to the powerful Reddy brothers of Bellary.
It is no secret that there is a lot of cloak-and-dagger action on in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, and mining barons Karunakara and Janardana Reddy are said to be leading the charge against him in the party.
But the reason why this is happening is three pigs crossing the road one day in Shimoga, if the bad omen theorists are to be believed.
When the chief minister was in Shimoga last week, his car hit three pigs crossing the road. One of the pigs was badly hurt.
Pig power
Taking it as a bad omen, Yediyurappa's followers made him change his car, besides performing a ritual on the spot. Yediyurappa switched to his member of Parliament son B Y Raghavendra's car and continued his journey to attend a groundbreaking ceremony of a government building in the district.
"It (injuring pigs) is regarded as a bad omen and we tried to ward off the evil there and then, following astrology experts' instructions," said a person close to the chief minister. "And the developments since the incident are only endorsing our belief that the incident would bring bad luck."
Admitting that the family was concerned over the accident, Raghvendra said the worry was over the pain suffered by the animals and not over impending political turmoil.
Stoic son
"Nobody can change destiny and, therefore, I would not like to attach any importance to the incident," he said.
"However, owing to the concerns of our supporters, we performed 'Varaaha Pooja' and 'Raktha Shanthi' on the spot."
Hindus believe the Varaaha as an incarnation of Vishnu, the preserver of the world, who took the form of a boar to save Vasundhara, or Mother Earth, from evil forces.
Throne of blood: Burying pigs alive
Bhanuprakash Sharma, Chief Minister Yediyurappa's family priest and astrologer, who has said the chief minister's problems stem from the unfavourable position of the all-powerful stars, said the pigs accident would not affect Yediyurappa as he had performed 'Swetha Varaaha' and 'Ashta Varaaha' before assuming power.
The Swetha Varaaha ritual includes burying eight white pigs alive, while Ashta Varaaha requires burying eight black pigs alive. The belief is that Swetha Varaaha results in 'Bhoo Vashikarana,' or the capture of land or power, while 'Ashta Varaaha' has 'Raja Vashikarana', overcoming rival kings (or rulers), as its effect.
Janata Dal (Secular) chief H D Deve Gowda is also said to have done the rituals with Sharma.
Animal activist aghast
B Sharat Babu, environment advisor to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike forest wing and an animal activist, said burrying pigs alive is punishable under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act-1960 and under Section 428 of the CrPC.
"The Animal Wefare Board can take action even withoutu00a0 evidenceu00a0if anybody files a complaint. But who will complain against the CM," said Babu.
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