Made Made Snana

Made Made Snana (ಮಡೆ ಮಡೆ ಸ್ನಾನ), also Made Snana, is a religious practice observed in some Hindu temples of Karnataka. Made (ಮಡೆ) in Tulu Language refers to the left-overs after a meal, and the word Snana(ಸ್ನಾನ) in Kannada & Tulu means "bath".

Temples in South India, hold communal meals for people of all sects, during special religious occasions. These meals, are typically of the traditional South Indian variety, where hindu people are served food over plantain leaves on the temple floor. The ritual of Made Made Snana involves devotees rolling over the plantain leaves, once food has been partaken by Brahmins. The devotees then take a Holy dip in the nearby Kumaradhara River, after which the ritual is said to be complete. The practice is said to be more than 500 years old.

It is believed that the ritual rids one of bad Karma, skin diseases and other ailments. Devotees say it is good stress relief.

Made Made Snana was predominantly practiced on certain festive days in Subramanya temples of Karnataka, but has also been performed at vaishnavite places such as the Krishna Math, Udupi. The practice is actively practiced in the Kukke Subramanya Temple, and in the Subramanya temples of Kalavara, Kundapura Taluk and Ramanathapura, Hassan District.

The Supreme Court of India has stayed the Karnataka High Court order allowing such rituals to continue. Since the conventional Made Made Snana is now illegal, a modified version known as "Ede Snana", in which devotees roll over "prasada" (food offered to the deity) or consumed by cows is still practised.

The practice in the prominent Kukke Subramanya Temple has generated controversy in the State of Karnataka, where certain groups and individuals, including the State president of the Backward Classes Awareness Forum, K S Shivaram, who suggested that the practice symbolizes slavery, are demanding a ban, calling it a campaign against “blind beliefs”. The practice is generally performed by Hindus of all varna, including the Brahmins. The protestors however claim to be campaigning against Dalit "oppression" at the hand of Upper-caste Hindus, especially the Brahmins. The groups protesting the practice include, the Karnataka State Backward Classes awareness Forum, and the communist party, CPI(M). The groups claim to be protesting, the "casteism". "barbarism" and "superstition" of the practice, and against the caste-based segregation followed during the communal meals. Pejawar do support this superstitious act. It has also been reported that neither the Government of Karnataka, nor the Kukke Subramanya Temple administration endorses the continued practice of the ritual.

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Wikipedia