Argument on Aluva's place-name origins

Somalatha escorted to yagasala
By K.J.Francis Joy:: First Published : 28 Apr 2009 01:53:00 AM IST
ALUVA: The Agnishtoma Somayagam Yagasala witnessed a rare ritual on Monday when the Somalatha, which was brought from Mujjuhva mountains of the Himalayas, was installed on a cart pulled by two calves and escorted to Agnihotrisala amid chanting of Vedic hymns.
Poojas were conducted for the Somayagam participants, considering them as Gods (Devas). An elderly devotee who was honoured as Somarajan was offered a seat on Ahanthi.
Yajamanan Kurusaroor Narayanan Adithiripad performed pooja by giving ‘Argyapadyadhikal.’ A ritual ‘Adhithyeshti’ was offered to Lord Maha Vishnu.
In another ritual, the Vedic scholars agreed to conduct Somayagam touching the ‘Thanunathram,’ the specially prepared holy ghee.
Performing ‘Pravargya Sambaram’ ritual, the scholars made clay pots named Manthrapoorvam, Mahaveeram and Upasayam.
Thousands of devotees visited the Yagasala and attended the ‘annadanam’ on Monday. The Somayagam will conclude on May 1.

Comments
Thank you, Mr.Ravi. Yours is the exact style in which Sankara used to argue. Sankara's pre-conditions were that the opponent should, if he is defeated, jump into fire, consume poison, jump to death from the hill-top, become Sankara's slave etc etc. I request Mr.Ravi to read Swami Vivekananda's comments on Sankara's personality. Sankara's style was typically bully-istic and not straight. That is how he 'defeated' the peaceful and innocent Buddhist monks that used to easily fall into his trap. Even here, Mr.Ravi tells me, "Thats why ur missionary find it difficult to convert indians(hindus) in large scale which u did anywhere in world"; arguing from a gross basic misconception. Anyway, what I said is Aluva's hidden history, hidden in ways similar to Western historical ideas about Indian heritage. By R.Sajan 4/29/2009 12:06:00 AM

Sajan,u r wrong.sankara philosophy is based on Knowledge rather rituals.The Buddists philosphy itself copied from Upanishads which they succesfully demonstrated among common people who kept away from sanskrit.But Sankara defeated all interpretation of Buddists regarding "atman" and developed "advita" which is the turning point in the fate of Buddism in india.Unlike in western or middle east caountries,where "philosophies" faught with swords and "iron rods", in india(Bharath) the philosophical battle done by great literary works and thesis in an academic point of view.Thats why ur missionary find it difficult to convert indians(hindus) in large scale which u did anywhere in world. By Ravi 4/28/2009 8:24:00 PM

‘Aluva’ was earlier ‘Aalawai”. The Rail station is even now Alwaye. The place got the name when Adi Shankara got his chieftain follower Jayaram to impale 700 Buddhist monks on Aalawai or Alavaanks [ iron rods sharpened at one end]and leave them on the Periyar shore to slowly die in pain. The Buddhists were in those days the only saviours of the oppressed subjects of local chieftains who saw their saviour in Adi Shankara. It is ideal that the Yaga is being held there. Yet it is Aceldama kind of blood-ridden land. Swami Vivekananda described Shankara as a mad fanatic because of such incidents. By R.Sajan4/28/2009 1:51:00 PM

Blaring PA system at the site is most ridiculous. Are these Yagas not to be conducted in peace and solemn silence? In the evenings, cacaphonic cultural programmes hamper the chanting. By R.Sajan4/28/2009 1:32:00 PM