Off-Limits for others: Veera Kovil, 4.97 hectare sacred grove, is located more than a kilometer from Kasampatta in the Dindigul district. Only men from a certain family can enter the sacred grove and perform rituals. | Photo Credit: G. Karthikeyan
The sun is a burning and newly laid road from the village of Kasampatta to Melur Sizzles. But Manian walks barefoot, clutching his well -worn slippers in his hand. On the one hand, there is Veera Kovil, 4.97 hectare sacred groves and on the other there are mango sets. Until he exceeds the sacred place, she bends his head and dares to look in the middle of a strong vegetation where the deity is located. For the villagers living in this exuberant valley at the foot of Alagar Kovil, Veeranan “Kaval Deivam”, a folk deity that guards the village for more than 800 years. The recent announcement of the government of Tamil Nadu, claiming Kasampatta (Veera Kovil) Sacred Grove, by which the second place for the biodiversity of the state catapulted this rural area to the center of attention and sent waves between this mainly agrarian community. “None of the government came to inform us about such a proposal,” says Rasa, villagers. “Any decision should only be made after consultation with us,” he says.
“No need for brand”
The villagers are afraid that the brand of the biodiversity website would inspire tourists to visit this place. “We are not worth it at all, because it will only desecrate our sacred grove,” says the village. The deity, Veeranan, is very strong and maintain a place where they live sacred, adhere to various rituals and taboo, they say. “We have maintained a place for ages for ages and we will keep it safe for future generations; we do not see the need to maintain it by naming the biodiversity inheritance,” one of them says.
According to legend, one of their ancestors Pattavan was buried on the spot. He became a deity for the villagers. Later, Veeravan, who came, had a show with Pattavan. Pattavan lost a bet and Veeravan became a Guardian deity for villagers in the section. Only men from a certain family can enter the sacred grove and perform rituals. The temple festival takes place around May every three years. But no women are allowed. It is only a festival for men, with rituals starting in the evening and ending at midnight. An interesting part of the rituals is that one male member must stand on one leg until he gets. After the rituals, the goat is sacrificed and is consumed in the sacred grove; No part is taken to the village. These social practices, together with the fear of Veeranan’s anger, resulted in the creation of taboo. Even the leaf is not ripped out of the grove, nor is there a dead twig for fuel. It is a virgin territory where the human movement is limited and the forest is regenerated.
Rare herbs and trees
According to P. Vasnathan of the Dhan Foundation, there are 120 sacred groves in Natham Belt and 1,750 in Tamil Nadu. Why was Kasampatta chosen as a biodiversity place? The answer according to the environmentalist Karthikeyan Parkavithai is that this sacred grove has an intense and intimate connection with people. Even after so many things, there was no change in their practices, and it helped keep the grove, the storage of rare fauna. “This was the first time I saw” Kodi “, climbing in Sangam literature. In other parts it is almost extinct. Similarly, there are many healing herbs such as” Aavarai “,” Pirandai “,” Virali “,” Kaat Sundai “and” Jetram Poe “” Veleirvai “,” Vayapuras “and”. ” It emphasizes two important trees: “ETTI” and “Oduvan”. They are very poisonous. However, when their extract is added with other medicinal plants, they turn into an antidote for the snake bites.
But even the local native healers will not enter this sacred grove to the source of ingredients for their potion. With maternal plants inside the sacred grove, an area surrounding it is also rich in medicinal plants due to the distraction of seeds. From these places, local healers collect their raw materials. “If these original species, which become obsolete in various other places, are still beneficial in this part of Alagara Kovil, it is because of the villagers who protected this rich biosphere of religious sacredness. It is a rich gene bank,” says Mr. Karthikeyan.
The sacred grove is more than a kilometer from the village, but its presence is tangible in the village. Last month, the villagers asked Dindigul collectors that the government should not declare a biodiversity for biodiversity because it fears that the forest department would impose a restriction on their entry.
“Entrance to the Forest Limited”
In the last few years, villagers have faced problems with forest department officials who, as they claim, have limited their entrance to the reserve forest. Older villages say it was usual to get holy water from two waterfalls in a reserve forest. To achieve these falls, about 10 km in ranges, they walk barefoot. This water is used in rituals and is sprinkled over the deities. However, forest department employees limit their entry later, say older villages. The villagers are afraid that within a few years their entry into the sacred grove could be limited.
Forest department officials face that fear of villagers is unfounded. “Sacred Grove is on the income ground and we do not even intend to control it,” the clerk says. “Legends are spreading and the villagers are misleading,” he emphasizes. “We will soon organize a meeting with villagers and we will create a notice of announcement,” he adds. But people from Kasampatta are in an aggressive mood. In the sacred grove, the “Kavalai Kodi” is set to flourish. In the first days the tuber “Kavalai Kodi” was consumed. Part in Kuruntthokai, part of Sangam literature, describes how the pits were created after the tuber was. They were filled with yellow flowers that fell from a gold shower tree (“Kondrai Poo”). From a distance, the ground resembled the open chest of gold jewelry. There is no gold shower tree in Veera Kovil Sacred Grove, but “Kodi Kavallai” snuggles through the rich treasure of natural resources that local people worship.
Published – April 10, 2025 22:11
