Seminar on Mahishasura held as part of Mahisha Dasara in Mysuru

Mahishasura's history has been suppressed and a myth spun by Vedic forces, according to speakers at a seminar. The Mahisha Dasara Organising Committee organised the seminar to discuss the historical perspective of Mahishasura, who is often projected as a demon. Speakers said this was exploitative and called for questioning established narratives. They also criticised Pratap Simha for opposing Mahisha Dasara. The seminar aimed to distinguish truth from falsehood and spread knowledge of history.

Speakers at a seminar said here on Sunday, September 10, that the history of Mahishasura had been suppressed and a myth had been spun by projecting him as a demon as he represented the indigenous people.

The Mahisha Dasara Organising Committee had organised a seminar on the ‘’Historical Perspective of Mahishasura’’ who is projected as a demon killed by goddess Chamundeshwari and Dasara is often held to commemorate the event and described as victory of good over evil.

But the resource persons said this was a myth spun by the followers of the ‘’Brahminical forces’’ or the ‘’Vedic forces’’ by suppressing the history of Mahishasura and mythology which, according to them, holds a grip on the masses and was exploitative in nature.

Krishnamurthy Chamaram of KSOU said that in India, history has been mixed with mythology and time had come for sifting the myths from the facts by questioning the established narratives.

He said Mahisha Dasara was not an alternative or a parallel event to Mysuru Dasara but an effort to throw light on a king who has been buried as a mythological person and designated as a demon. Mr. Krishnamurthy Chamaram said social harmony prevails as long as there is unquestioned adherence to established norms. But there is chaos the movement those who are exploited speak for their rights and the reactions to Mahisha Dasara was a testimony to it.

Jnanaprakash Swamiji of Urilinga Peddi Mutt said that time had come to spread the knowledge of history by disentangling it from mythology and the seminar was an effort in that direction. He said one of the objectives of the seminar was to learn about Mahisha and not to insult the religious beliefs of others.

‘’While the Constitution has bestowed right on every individual to follow his beliefs, those opposing Mahisha Dasara were trying to dictate the narrative and preventing others from adhering to their beliefs, which was unconstitutional,’’ he added. Jnanaprakash Swamiji said he organising committee will bring out the presentations, papers and the proceedings of the seminar in the form of a book and will release it on October 13.