*27 Jun 2011* * * *Ramkrishna Badseshi * *GULBARGA*: Many associate moon with peace. However, on the two most important events in lunar calendar — full moon day and no moon day — peace eludes a temple in Gulbarga district as brouhaha takes over. Blame it all on evil spirits.
Dattatreya Temple in Ganagapur town of Afzalpur taluk is where people bring their friends/relatives who, they believe, are possessed by evil spirits. People believe that on full moon and no moon days, the demons are exorcised with the blessings of Sri Narasimha Saraswati (who is believed to be incarnation of Lord Dattatreya). The belief draws many people to the temple with a hope that their problems will be cured. Mental health experts disapprove. But the show goes on, every full moon day and no moon day. On these days, the process of Maha Mangalaratri starts at around 11.30 am. Those “possessed” by evil spirits start yelling, howling, screaming and making different kind of loud, confused noises. Some start weeping. Some start rolling on the ground. Some curse Lord Dattatreya (people believe it is the spirit that is being exorcised that hurls out the curses). Some “possessed” people even climb to the poles on a platform that the temple authorities have built. Commotion prevails. Then the “affected persons” collapse at the entrance of the temple in a semi-conscious state. It takes around 15-20 minutes for them to get back to their normal state. *'Someone was punishing the spirit within me’* Shubhangi Mane is one woman who believes she was possessed with some evil spirit. She came to the temple on full moon day in June, hoping that the demon would be exorcised. She told Express that she had been possessed for a few years now. Elaborating, she said she had been experiencing as if somebody was poking her with a pin. She said she was having inexplicable, strange feelings. Mane added that her family members had taken her to many doctors, including psychiatrists. She said the visits and the treatment did not give her any relief. She informed that her visit to the temple in June was her second. This time, she mentioned, she felt as if somebody was punishing the spirit inside her. She said she did not remember anything else that happened during “exorcism”. Many others who had come to the temple shared similar experiences. A few of them said that the temple’s priest had informed them that during Maha Mangalaratri, the “possessed” persons had taken the names of those who had cursed them with evil spirits. They added that the priest had told them that within a couple of weeks their life would return to normal. Sandeep Pujari, one of the priests of Ganagapur, told Express that those who come to the temple with devotion get solution to all of their problems, including those regarding health and money. *‘Take medical treatment first’* Prof C R Chandrashekhar, Professor of Psychiatry and Mental Health Education in NIMHANS, told Express that the people who go to the temple with hope of a cure to their problem should first get proper medical treatment and then take darshana of the deity. He said a few people might indeed have gotten “cured” in the temple but what about many others. He said that the government should chalk out an awareness programme and should convince the caretakers of mentally unsound persons to approach a psychiatrist for treatment instead of rushing to a temple. Chandrashekhar pointed out that people who believe they are possessed visit Dharmasthala too but there the temple authorities advise them to take medical treatment and then come for darshana. He said this practice should be followed in Ganagapur too. He reiterated that the temple authorities, health officials and voluntary organisations should convince people about the need and importance of medical care. He stressed that allowing such “exorcism” shows might result in more people flocking to the temple in hope of a cure. *Seven years, no psychiatrist* The district health officer of Gulbarga, Dr Nalini Namoshi, said the post of psychiatrist was vacant in Gulbarga District Government Hospital for seven years now. She informed that a psychiatrist used to visit the hospital twice a week. Given the non-availability of a mental healthcare expert, Namoshi said, the district administration could not contact the caretakers of mentally unsound persons who seek divine cure instead of medical intervention. She further said that the Gulbarga Zilla Panchayat had already sent a proposal to the government to fill the post of psychiatrist. She said once the post was filled, they could think of organising a health awareness camp in Ganagapur. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Gulbarga, denied the allegation that the district administration had built the platform in front of the temple for exorcism. He said the district administration had indeed built the platform but with a purpose of controlling the crowd. The temple belongs to Mujrai Department. http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/Where-%E2%80%98evil-spirits%E2%80%99-are-%E2%80%98exorcised%E2%80%99/288341.html -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
