Murugan Bhakti Newsletter No. 17
November 2003 Issue

Special Issue: Kuala Lumpur Murukan Conference 2003

In this issue...

1. Murukan Conference Yahoo Group
2. Murukan Conference 3: An Overview
3. Tamil articles now available online
4. Conference-related articles published online
5. Editorial: Whither the Murukan Conference Series?
6. Arupadaiveedu - A Multimedia Ecstasy CD-ROM / VCD
7. Murukan Conference Newsletter: Features in coming issues

I. Murukan Conference Yahoo Group
The Murukan Conference Yahoo Group, since 1999, is a moderated online discussion group devoted to the International Murukan Conference Series. Its online publication the Murukan Conference Newsletter, together with the Murukan Conference web site www.Murugan.org, aims to promote excellence in Kaumara studies worldwide and to make quality research articles, photos, graphics, and news available online to the international community of scholars and devotees alike.

This issue of the Murugan Bhakti Newsletter not only highlights the recent 3rd International Murukan Conference in Kuala Lumpur, but it also welcomes at long last the launch of online publishing in Tamil of articles on the Murugan Bhakti Network of web sites. Tamil readers will certainly welcome this development. It also means that Tamil Kaumara scholars may now reach a worldwide audience by having their research articles published online in the original Tamil.

Members of both moderated online discussion groups, Murukan Conference and Murugan Bhakti, may submit articles, opinions, news, etc. simply by replying to newsletters. When there is adequate material to justify a fresh publication, the editor Patrick Harrigan will compile, edit, and publish a concise new issue (like this one). In this way, members' mailboxes never get flooded with group messages, as with some un-moderated Yahoo groups. If you enjoy the Murugan Bhakti Newsletter, share it with others. If you have a problem (if your e-mail application does not recognise HTML-formatted text, etc.), ask the editor for help.

II. Highlights of Murukan Conference 2003
The long-anticipated Third International Arulmigu Murugan Conference Malaysia 2003 held at Batu Caves has finally come to pass, marking another milestone for Kaumaram and Kaumara studies. Foreign delegates, mainly from India, had an opportunity to savour Malaysian cuisine and hospitality, and to marvel at the magnificence of the Batu Caves environment, which left many delegates spellbound. Malaysian Tamils, who had been slow to get involved in the Murukan Conference Series in 1998, rolled out the red carpet to 87 foreign delegates, who were duly impressed by the economic strides Malaysian society has made in the past few decades.

In particular, the Malaysian Organising Committee and Śrī Subramaniar Swamy Temple Devasthanam, Batu Caves, deserve acclaim for tireless efforts put forth since 2001, staging the Third Murukan Conference successfully despite heavy expense (the nominal registration fee charged to delegates did not even begin to cover the organisers' actual costs per delegate), a SARS epidemic earlier this year that forced postponement of the Conference, and controversies that continue unabated even after the Conference adjourned on 5.11.2003.

Inevitably, comparisons with previous Murukan Conferences will be made, especially by those who have seen more than one Conference. Delegates were dazzled by Kuala Lumpur city and by Batu Caves in particular. But (as generally happens at large conferences) for some delegates the arrangements and/or organisation of the Conference fell short of expectations. Even local Malaysian delegates expressed mixed opinions, some complaining that "too many underprepared scholars spoke" and that much of the work was "propagandist and hagiographic, rather than carefully researched."

And yet, there were plenty of notable exceptions, of well-researched presentations that were well-received and appreciated, both in Tamil and in English. Most will be published online. Unlike at the First Murukan Conference where some foreign delegates were given as little as 10 minutes to make their presentations, this time every presentation was given 30 minutes or more, although this entailed sessions being spread over three venues (actually, three spacious caverns). And there was little of the sense of haste and confusion that had characterised earlier Murukan Conferences, although this time the organisation of the sessions had been left to just one or two people (including the editor) without a single volunteer present to support them, for three days.

Moreover, the Conference organisers succeeded in releasing a handsome souvenir publication and programme materials, and staging gala inauguration and valedictory functions. Vegetarian meals, comfortable (subsidized) hotel accommodations, and luxury bus services all ran smoothly (if sometimes late). Nightly cultural shows by performers from Bharata Kshetra Dance Centre and Kirubakaran's choir group, as well as Bharata Natyam artist Dr. Malati Agneswaran, songs on Lord Muruga by Kalaimamani Kovai Kamala and others kept delegates in a relaxed devotional mood throughout the Conference period. Inevitably, slips occurred in the complex (and short-handed) organisation that left some delegates feeling sore and disappointed, which the organisers (including the editor) acknowledge with regret.

It should not be forgotten that an important purpose of international conferences is for delegates to meet and mingle with one another, forming friendships and professional alliances that endure long after the conferences themselves. The Kuala Lumpur Conference, which will continue to bear fruit for years to come, was no exception.

For online versions of local Malaysian press coverage of the Murukan Conference in English and Tamil, see The Star and the Malaysia Nanban articles of 4.11.2003. More articles, photos, and opinion pieces about the Conference will appear in the Murukan Conference Newsletter and on the Murugan.org web site in the weeks and months to come. If you wish to publish your review, report, or opinion about the Conference, submit it as a ‘reply' to this newsletter.

III. Murugan.org commences publishing in Tamil
From inception in 1996, the Murukan Conference Series and Murugan Bhakti web sites have aimed to accept and publish quality articles not only in English, but also in Tamil and other Indian languages. For technical reasons, however, Internet publishing in Asian languages involves additional layers of difficulty, including choice of available fonts, keyboard complexity, and editing complexity. Since English has been the language of choice for most Internet users since the birth of the Internet, and so much English material remains unpublished, Murugan Bhakti website have focused almost entirely upon publishing in English, except for a limited number of sacred texts in Tamil.

Now all that has changed. Around the world, Tamil scholars are becoming more adept at using personal computers and Internet to read, write, and exchange documents in Tamil script. The Murugan Bhakti Network of 11 Kaumara websites is proud to inaugurate Tamil language publishing for Tamil scholars, devotees, and public alike, beginning with the main web site, www.Murugan.org, where most Murukan Conference papers appear. There is no charge for this service.

As of release of this Newsletter, the following articles are now available online (Tamil articles require Bamini font to display):

1. Malaysia Nanban: "3vathu arulmigu murukan maanādu camaya arignarkal thirandanar"
2. " Murukap Perumanin Virathankalum Vizhakkalum" by Santhi Navukarasan
3. " Peranda Boomiyil Perinbam petra Sasan Bhoganathar" by M.S. Mathivanan
4. "Kabilarmalai Arulmigu Balasubramania Cuvami Tirukkovil" by Dr. Cu. Balusamy

IV. Conference-related articles newly published at www.Murugan.org

The Kuala Lumpur Conference concluded only ten days ago, yet already Conference articles in Tamil and English are already being published on the Murugan.org web site at a brisk rate. If you would like your research paper to be included on the Conference web site, send a soft copy tothe Editor. Photos and other graphics may also be submitted for inclusion in published articles. These should be sent as scanned .JPG files of 100 kb or less each. If you have any questions or doubts, reply to this newsletter to contact the Editor.

The Murukan Conference programme-schedule of paper presentations is now being published at: http://murugan.org/events/2003-program.htm.

As of the time of release of this Murukan Conference Newsletter, the following articles have been freshly published on the www.Murugan.org website since the Conference adjourned (Tamil articles require Bamini font to display):

1. The Star: "Cultural Performances at Batu Caves during Murukan Conference"
2. Malaysia Nanban: "3vathu arulmigu murukan mānādu camaya arignarkal thirandanar"
3. "Batu Malai Śrī Subramaniar Swamy Devasthanam" by R. Nadaraja
4. "Thai Pusam at Batu Caves, Malaysia" by Swami Guhabhaktananda
5. "Worship of Murukan and the Zodiac" by Ramakrishna Rao
6. "Murukan, The Protector and Healer" by Prof. Mrs. V. Balambal
7. "Representations of Bala Murukan in Kunrutoradal Temples" by Malati Agneswaran
8. "Nallur Kumaran: History, Layout, Festivals & Worship"
9. "The Soul within the Roles of Skanda-Murukan" by Brahma Kumari Pari
10. "Devaraya Swamigal's contribution to 'Murukanism'" by Sivagami Paramasivam
11. "How the International Murukan Conference Series began" by Patrick Harrigan
12. "Murukap Perumanin Virathankalum Vizhakkalum" by Santhi Navukarasan
13. "Peranda Boomiyil Perinbam petra Sasan Bhoganathar" by M.S. Mathivanan
14. "Kabilarmalai Arulmigu Balasubramania Cuvami Tirukkovil" by Dr. Cu. Balusamy

V. Editorial: Whither the Murukan Conference Series?
Now that fanfare surrounding the Third International Murukan Conference has subsided, delegates and observers may reflect upon what took place in Malaysia. While the press provided an upbeat, even frivolous, portrayal of the organisers' heroic (and expensive) efforts, everyone present knew that, behind closed doors, the powers that be were brokering deals based less upon scholarship or devotion than upon calculations of self-interest.

For many participants, there was a sense of resignation, of helplessness in the face of the inevitable. For the faithful, however, there was implicit trust in the maxim "Ellam avar ceyal", that behind it all, Lord Murukan the Master Puppeteer was taking full advantage of peoples' individual weaknesses (vanity, pride, ambition, etc.) as part of His own unfathomable Game plan. For most, if not all participants, however, Lord Murukan's ‘plan' is a matter of faith rather than speculation, let alone knowledge (which, after all, is His alone).

More down to earth, at the ground level where conferences are planned and executed, there are other questions that present themselves to discerning observers, viz:

1. What is the purpose of holding international conferences on Kaumaram?
2. What should be the purpose of research into Kaumaram?
3. Will Kaumara studies some day fall into the hands of vested interests who will exploit it for their own political and/or commercial aims?

As an illustration of how vulnerable Kaumara studies are to distortion and misuse, the Malaysian press gave prominence to the irresponsible remarks of a few participants who, for the sake of gaining attention, declared that "no research is necessary for Kaumaram."

Danger
Any religious community that does not know its own history, and has not analysed and understood its own sacred literature and traditions in terms that command the respect of other communities, is in danger of falling prey to its own intellectual weakness that remains hidden under a cloak of smug self-satisfaction. Today India especially ranks high on the target lists of missionaries of Semitic religions, who would feel no remorse about breaking the backbone of a non-Semitic religion like Hinduism. And yet, modern Tamils around the world, flush with newfound material wealth, build more and more extravagant temples, while neglecting the cultivation of religious knowledge.

The result may be seen in the children of ex-patriates, and even in children in India, who have less and less use for Hindu values, and consider religion as a relic from the past. The message is clear: Hindus (read: Tamils) must come up to international standards of excellence in theological scholarship and knowledge, or face extinction at the hands of religious rivals.

In the heady days of its founding, the Murukan Conference Series presented itself as a rallying point around which Kaumara scholars could meet to exchange research findings and set standards so that, some day, Kaumara theology would command respect not only in the southernmost state of India, but across India and around the world. This could only happen by systematically encouraging higher expectations and higher standards for Kaumara researchers, educators, and theologians.

‘Reign of Quantity'
What happened? The movement abruptly lurched in the opposite direction. Instead of promoting higher standards, it was decided that no standards should be applied at all. Instead of promoting quality scholarship, it was decided to make a show of quantity, of presenting more papers, of more words, by more ‘experts' from more nations. In the total absence of standards, anyone with a little education may pass himself off as a ‘Kaumara scholar' or theologian. The Malaysian delegates' observationthat "too many underprepared scholars spoke" and that much of the work was "propagandist and hagiographic, rather than carefully researched" only confirms that Kaumara scholarship, rather than improving, is becoming the playground of dilettantes, amateurs who dabble in Kaumaram, write a few pieces of bombastic hagiography, and pride themselves on the ‘contribution' they have made to Hinduism.

A few figures will illustrate the point. The First International Conference Seminar on Skanda-Murukan in 1998, which was conceived as a closed seminar for at most a few dozen dedicated professional scholars of Kaumaram. Instead, it was thrown open to the very people who recently declared in Malaysia that "no research is necessary for Kaumaram."

The First Conference attracted the participation of 135 scholars from 23 nations on six continents. Many came in the sincere belief that Kaumaram was on the verge of becoming a field of reputable scholars. Hundreds more attended crowded session as observers. The ‘Conference' looked and sounded more like a bazaar or mela than an assembly of scholars. As mentioned, delegates who had come from distant countries were shocked when told that they would be given only ten minutes to make their presentations. At one stroke, the ‘Reign of Quantity' had seized control of Kaumara studies.

Not surprisingly, the First Murukan Conference was the biggest Murukan Conference in terms of numbers. It also drove many serious scholars away from the Series. Despite bigger budgets, long campaigns, and loud proclamations about the numbers of delegates who will attend, Conferences have so far failed to attract top-notch scholars, who keep away from melas.

According to the organisers' own press release of 20.10.03, the Third Murukan Conference "expects to pull a crowd of 10,000 devotes" (sic). Even at that late date they declared, and the press dutifully reported, that "More than 200 delegates from over 20 countries and about 250 local delegates have registered with us to attend this spiritual and academic conference. A total of 96 papers will be presented by leading scholars who have international reputation."

The reality, of course, was quite different, as anyone who attended can testify. Instead of "over 20 countries", only eight were represented (Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, and Germany in numerical order). Few registered Malaysian observers even bothered to attend. At the inaugural function for "10,000 devotes", the organisers put out only around 800 chairs—far more than were needed.

Why the inflated attendance figures? Why the need to quote large figures, at the expense of truth? If only two or three outstanding scholars or devotees had agreed to attend and address the Conference, that alone would provide ample justification for such an event. But when a conference gives the podium to a hundred or more speakers, naturally the standard drops as informed speakers are crowded out and lost in the din of bombastic harangues by under-qualified and under-prepared speakers. Even the vital minutes for questions and answers had to be cut to the barest minimum.

Fourth Murukan Conference
The proof that the Conference Series is being manipulated by vested interests emerged from Day One, when the spokesperson for the Sri Lankan delegation, Mrs. Shanthi Navukarasan (who is also Director of the Department of Hindu Religious Affairs of Sri Lanka) openly appealed at the inaugural function for the Conference organisers to honour the first resolution passed unanimously at the First Murukan Conference in 1998, that the next Conference should be held in Sri Lanka.

Behind the scenes, it transpires, Indian organisers for months had been desperately searching for a foreign country to host the 4th Murukan Conference. Any foreign country, that is, except Sri Lanka. First, in April 2003 they announced in Chennai at a fund-raising function that the 4th Conference would be hosted by South Africa. But the South Africans could not be easily persuaded, and declined. At the last minute, the tiny island-nation Seychelles with its small Tamil community was pressed to accept the task. They, too, declined citing the heavy expenditure required, and endorsed Śrī Lanka's bid instead.

What did the Indian organisers decide? To relent, accept the will of the international community, and honor their pledge to let Sri Lanka host the Conference? Instead, they maintained a wall of stoney silence, followed by an abrupt announcement that the Fourth Murukan Conference would be held in Pudukkottai.

Why in Pudukkottai? Is it a renowned centre for Kaumara scholarship? Or is it an ancient centre of Murukan devotion? Hardly. Rather, the organisers hope that, by holding the next conference in a small town away from urban centres like Chennai or Madurai that are home to large populations of educated Hindus, they can control the next conference proceedings to their full satisfaction.

This was despite the fact that the administration of Palani Dandayudhapani Swami Devasthanam had twice extended an invitation to host the next Murukan Conference that is held in India. Given a choice between Pudukkottai and Palani, most delegates by far would choose world-famous Palani Devasthanam with all its temples and conference facilities.

Is there is another, brighter, way to understand the course of events that has put the Murukan Conference Series on a descending path that is making the conferences more and more parochial and provincial, and less dedicated to the ideals that served as its original inspiration? If so, the Editor would like to hear from anyone who can enlighten him.

To submit your opinion, write to the Editor by replying to this newsletter.

VI. Arupadaiveedu Multimedia CD-ROM
A comprehensive multimedia CD-ROM / VCD on Lord Muruga entitled Arupadai Veedu - A Multimedia Ecstasy has been released by Cybervalley Systems, India. With exclusive coverage on each arupadai veedu temple, the CD-ROM/ VCD is a must buy for all those who wish to explore the temples, legends, various festivals, holy waters associated with the temples, and other important details.

This multimedia CD-ROM is meant for all personal computers with Windows operating systems. The video contents in the CD are also compatible with most VCD / DVD players in the market. The CD is in Tamil, but an English language edition will also be released soon. The cost of CDROM is US $10/= (Including postal charges - across the globe).

To lean more about the CD-ROM, view sample graphics, and/or to order, click here.

VII. Murukan Conference Newsletter: Features in coming issues

• Future of the International Murukan Conference Series: News and views
• Announcements of National Conferences and special presentations
• Multi-media: Using PowerPoint application to create digital presentations for public show
• Standard Diacritics: How to create articles for publication with diacritical marks on your PC
• When will Murukan Conference research articles ever appear in print?
• Style Sheet: International publishing standards for correct formatting of footnotes, bibliographies, etc.
• Readers' choice: send your articles or suggestions for publication

To view this special issue of the Murugan Bhakti Newsletter online, go to:
http://murugan.org/events/conf-newsletter12.htm

For enquiries, or to submit articles/opinions for publication, contact the editor: kataragama@gmail.com

Murugan Bhakti Newsletter No. 17: Newsletter of the Murugan Bhakti Network

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