Time And again we had reformers and revolutionaries who boldly questioned and opposed Hindu caste system. Latest in this list is Puthumana Maheswaran Nampoothiri who had established school to impart vedic knowledge to all irrespective of caste creed or gender.
Why such a school?
Acquiring knowledge is not a monopoly. We have SC Judgment in the case of K S Rakesh.
HIS APPOINTMNET as a temple priest when challenged the SC had said that the practice of reserving Hindu priesthood on the basis of birth and caste is archaic and barbaric-says Maheswaran Nampoothiri.
Born to Easwaran NAMPOOTHIRI ABD saraswat Antharjanam, Maheswaran had vedic training from Aluva Thantra vidya peedam. It is a 7 year course. I established a school at Changanasseri in 2001 and was surprised to non Brahmins and women who came to learn Vedas”
They wanted to learn this to do domestic rituals and ceremonies. There is no such institution to offer such course. I taught them Ganapathi Homam, Bhagavathi seva, etc. The student has to spend one hour a day. Mruthunjaya homam, sudarsana homam, navagraha pujas ulsavanushtanam, kalasa puja, prathishta karmam are also taught” he says.
Irrespective of gender, caste and creed, people gather at his residence to learn the rituals. ‘I face strong opposition from various quarters” he added.
